Many of you remember the homophobic remarks said by Barilla pasta CEO Guido Barilla on an Italian radio station last month. For those who don't remember or missed the story he said:
“Our family is a traditional family,” Barilla told the host. “I would not do a commercial with a homosexual family, not for lack of respect toward homosexuals—who have the right to do whatever they want without disturbing others—but because I don’t agree with them and I think we want to talk to traditional families.”
Barilla also expressed indifference toward the effect of his remarks on gay consumers. “If gays like our pasta and our advertising, they will eat our pasta; if they don’t like that, they will eat someone else’s pasta,” he said.
The remarks cause an immediate backlash which is still continuing.
This week Harvard University's Campus Dining Service (food for the dorms) decided to stop serving Barilla pasta as a result of the statements.
http://www.thecrimson.com/...
Said HUDS of the change:
“When the media shared the comments that were made, we felt like it was the right thing to do,” explained Crista Martin, HUDS director for marketing and communications. “We found out what pastas were available from our vendor, did a quick test to see what could be substituted, and made the switch.”
Mr. Barilla certainly has the right to say and believe whatever he would like. Just as Harvard University has the right to decide where to best spend their money based in part on who shares their views.