“Not sure how this promotes your business. Done!”
“It’s a jab to Christians, which you seem to think is okay … I’ve enjoyed your food but this ad leaves a bad taste in my mouth.”
“Oh no y’all didn’t! Throwing shade at Chick Fil a, when we all know that they have and will always have the best chicken! #Christianchickenforlife”
These were just a few of the angry comments after this restaurant’s Super Bowl ad mocked Chick-fil-A.
The ad for Zaxby’s restaurant starts with former NFL star Jeff Saturday running down a busy sidewalk and former MLB star Rick Monday zooming down the street in a classic muscle car.
A voice narrates the scene, “He’s Jeff Saturday … he’s Rick Monday … and the only thing that comes between them is where to go for chicken on Sunday.”
Both run up to the door of the restaurant and pull to enter only to find it seems to be locked.
“You think they’re closed?” Saturday asks.
Pointing to the PUSH sign on the door, Monday answers, “No man, push!”
The narrator comes back describing the food available and concludes with “On Sunday and every day” in a clear jab at Chick-fil-A which everyone knows is closed on Sunday in order to honor the Sabbath.
Rick Monday and Jeff Saturday then sit down at a table to enjoy their meal.
“We should do this again,” says Saturday.
Rick Monday asks, “What about Monday?”
“How about Saturday?” replies Jeff Saturday.
The pair share knowing glances as they both say together with a fist bump and a smile, “Sunday!”
While Zaxby’s certainly meant the ad to be all in good fun, folks on the internet didn’t seem to find it all that funny.
“I’m glad Chick-Fil-A honors a day off for their employees to attend church! You’re not superior – just greedy!” wrote one Chick-fil-A fan on Facebook.
Another had this to say, “Your super bowl ad is offensive. You don’t need to mock your competitor for closing on Sunday in observance of, and keeping holy, the Sabbath. It’s a jab to Christians, which you seem to think is okay. It’s not and obviously intentional to get negative attention. If your food is better than the competition, focus on that! I’ve enjoyed your food but this ad leaves a bad taste in my mouth.”
Some took it even further, pledging to never eat at Zaxby’s again.
Whatever your opinion on whether this ad was in “good taste”, one thing is true. Chick-fil-A’s Christian values have been a key part of their success.
Chick-fil-A’s founder, Truett Cathy, “made the decision to close on Sundays in 1946 when he opened his first restaurant in Hapeville, Georgia.”
“Having worked seven days a week in restaurants open 24 hours, Truett saw the importance of closing on Sundays so that he and his employees could set aside one day to rest and worship if they choose — a practice we uphold today.”
Cathy said in 2004 that closing on Sundays was a great business decision.
“God has blessed us for this. We have not suffered.”
Watch the ad yourself and let us know your thoughts in the comments below.