Pasta company refuses to feature gay families in ads

Trumpeting the ‘traditional family’ as ‘one of the company’s core values,’ Barilla chairman says detractors are free to ‘eat another’ brand.

Ragan Insider Premium Content
Ragan Insider Content

The Guardian reports that in speaking with Italian radio Wednesday evening, Barilla said:

“I would not do it but not out of a lack of respect for homosexuals, who have the right to do what they want without bothering others … [but] I don’t see things like they do and I think the family that we speak to is a classic family.”

According to a Huffington Post translation of the interview, Barilla added:

When later asked how he thought the stance would affect the company’s gay consumer-base, Barilla answered, “If they like our pasta and our message, they will eat it; if they don’t like it and they don’t like what we say, they will … eat another.”

It looks as though Barilla’s detractors will, indeed, opt for other brands.

To read the full story, log in.
Become a Ragan Insider member to read this article and all other archived content.
Sign up today

Already a member? Log in here.
Learn more about Ragan Insider.