Tag: Barilla Pasta

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Guido Barilla, CEO of Barilla Pasta, meets with LGBT organizations over recent anti-gay comments

Guido Barilla, CEO of Barilla Pasta, is feeling the heat for his recent anit-gay statements

Well, it appears the idiot CEO of Barilla Pasta – Guido Barilla – is really feeling the heat of his recent anti-gay comments. He recently found time to meet with LGBT rights organizations in Italy to discuss the damage done by his comments:

On Monday, Mr. Barilla met with five different LGBT organizations: Arcigay, Arcilesbica, Famiglie Arcobaleno, Gaynet, and Equality Italia. The meeting was held at the Regione Emilia-Romagna headquarters, where former Arcigay president and now regional councillor Franco Grillini has his office.

In an interview with GayStarNews, Grillini said: “We spoke about the company’s policies and about the impact on the LGBT community worldwide. Mr. Barilla apologized once again and told us they are really worried for the boycotting in North America. The news had a big impact in the United States and they went to the U.S. last week to reinforce their presence in that country.”

Good. I’m glad Barilla sees there are repercussions to discriminatory comments today.

I have no sympathy for him or his company, though. What they actually do next is their move. We’ll see.

However, its sad to know that this is about their bottom line and not a true reading of how he feels.

(via Queerty)

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Bertolli posts pro-gay inclusive ad after Barilla anti-gay debacle

Barilla may be trying to “apologize” – but competitor Bertolli is jumping right in with a message of inclusiveness for all pasta lovers.

Via AdWeek:

Barilla is struggling enough this week without its competitors piling on. But Bertolli doesn’t care.

Seizing on comments made by Barilla’s chairman about how the company would never put gay couples in its advertising, Bertolli Germany quickly posted pro-gay imagery in its social feeds, happily taking advantage of its rival’s misstep.

“Love and pasta for all!” reads the caption on the Facebook photo above.

“We just wanted to spread the news that Bertolli welcomes everyone, especially those with an empty stomach,” a rep for Orca im Hafen, Bertolli’s social-media agency in Germany, tells AdFreak.

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Guido Barilla “apologizes” for anti-gay statements

Barilla Chairman, after starting a shitstorm with anti-gay statements, has posted an “apology” on the company’s Facebook page.

Sorry – I don’t buy it.  He was very clear in his original statements.  This is obviously motivated by a board of directors who are fearful of a boycott.  This has nothing to do with sincere apology.

Says Barilla in the video:

“Yesterday, I apologized for offending many people around the world. Today I am repeating that apology.

Through my entire life I have always respected every person I’ve met, including gays and their families, without any distinction. I’ve never discriminated against anyone. I have heard the countless reactions around the world to my words, which have depressed and saddened me.

It is clear that I have a lot to learn about the lively debate concerning the evolution of the family.

In the coming weeks, I pledge to meet representatives of the group that best represent the evolution of the family, including those who have been offended by my words.”

On Wednesday night, company Chair Guido Barilla told the Italian radio show La Zanzara that the company would never make an ad with gay people and if they didn’t like it they can find another brand of pasta:

“I would never do an advert with a homosexual family…if the gays don’t like it they can go and eat another brand…For us the concept of the sacred family remains one of the fundamental values of the company….Everyone has the right to do what they want without disturbing those around them…”

He then added: “I have no respect for adoption by gay families because this concerns a person who is not able to choose.”

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Barilla Pasta – The gays can go eat another brand

The Italy-based Barilla pasta company has made it clear that they don’t want gay customers. And it looks like they’ll get their way

The Independent reports:

Guido Barilla, whose firm has almost half the Italian pasta market and a quarter of that in the US, told Italy’s La Zanzara radio show last night: “I would never do an advert with a homosexual family…if the gays don’t like it they can go an eat another brand.

“For us the concept of the sacred family remains one of the fundamental values of the company.”

He added: “Everyone has the right to do what they want without disturbing those around them”. But then the pasta magnate upped the ante by attacking gay adoption. “I have no respect for adoption by gay families because this concerns a person who is not able to choose,” he said.

(via Towleroad)