A Walkerton pizzeria has received thousands of negative Facebook and Yelp comments after the owners said they would not cater a same-sex wedding because of their religious beliefs.
Crystal O’Connor of Memories Pizza told ABC 57 that, because she and her family are Christians, they would not agree to cater a same-sex wedding. However, they would not deny services to anyone who came in to dine at their restaurant.
“We’re not discriminating against anyone, that’s just our belief and anyone has the right to believe in anything,” she said.
- RELATED: Owners of Memories Pizza in Walkerton announces support for religious freedom law, April 1, 2015
Since the story aired, the company’s Yelp and Facebook ratings have dropped to a single star — the lowest rating — and people from all over the world have posted comments on both pages. Several national news organizations, including BuzzFeed and Politico, have written about the Internet response, too.
“Worst pizza I have ever had regardless of the side of bigotry that comes along with it,” Laura S. of Granger wrote on Yelp. “Hopefully you and all the other business that discrimate (sic) under the thin vail of religion being a tool for hiding your bigot ways will become like your name sake, tacky and a distant memory.”
“I’d feel bad about contributing to the ruination of this business’ reputation and Crystal’s. And then I remembered: if you’re a business owner, it’s just not good business sense to turn away ANY customer,” wrote Wade R. of Lumberton, N.C. “And it’s doubly bad business sense to reveal why you did, especially if that reason is a madly-unpopular form of bigotry.”
Other comments call the business owners bigots, while others quote Bible verses. Some included memes and semi-nude photographs.
A website that purported to belong to the business displayed gay pornography and lewd commentary on Wednesday.
A Concord golf coach was suspended Wednesday after she used her Twitter account to invite people to “burn down” the pizzeria. The Tweet was forwarded to the Walkerton Police department, which confirmed it is looking into the threat.
EDITOR’S NOTE: The original version of this story said that the Memories Pizza website was hacked. The business did not have a website. Michiana’s News Channel regrets the error.
