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January 19, 2007
Two Gay Men Take Fatburger Way Too Seriously
Worth Repeating has a story about how two gay dudes from West Hollywood got all uppity about a Fatburger poster. Here is an email from one of the gay dudes describing the events:When West Hollywood-based spouses and screenwriting team David A. Lee and Daniel Vaillancourt walked by their neighborhood Fatburger restaurant on Sunday January 14, 2007, they were shocked to see a poster introducing the company's new Baby Fat Deal in the window. Its tag line read: "It’s for women, children and the occasional girly-man."The pair -- who feel that the homophobic and misogynistic slogan (made famous by unapologetic California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger) would be offensive in any city, but especially so in the bastion of gay pride that is WeHo -- went to Fatburger's corporate web site and lodged a written complaint. "We basically told them that this ad campaign is an insult to the LGBT community, and that until it was discontinued we would not patronize Fatburger," says Lee. Adds Vaillancourt: "That was a hard promise to make, because Fatburger is our hands-down favorite. But we meant business."
Lee and Vaillancourt didn't have to stay away for long. Within 24 hours, the couple received a written apology from the company, a "thank you" for pointing out the faux-pas, and a promise that every "girly-man" poster nationwide would immediately be taken down.
The grassroots activism left a great taste in the men’s mouths. Not that they’re strangers to causing a commotion. In 2004, Lee (a former Continental Airlines flight attendant) took on his past employer when it refused to honor its contractual agreement to provide spousal travel benefits to Vaillancourt, whom he had married in Vancouver, Canada. The couple won.
LAist would like to add more to this article, but the dude nailed it. And we think he is really good at writing in the 3rd person.
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I think the 2 men are not the big fans of Fatburger they say to be because if I can remember correctly those posters and signs have been up in Fatburger for a long time. I lived 2 blocks away from that particular location and have eaten in that store and remember seeing that sign since 2001. Somebody may be a little too sensitive.
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Too sensitive?! Is that some kind of insult?!!!!
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I'm surprised the obese weren't after Fatburger from the get-go.
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Wow, this is ridiculous.
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some people really do have too much time on their hands
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Hey dude, do you think you could see your way to writing an article without using the word dude? You are one of the worst writers on this site. Do LAist and Los Angeles a favor. Stop writing.
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I can understand their sensitivity. I was offended at an Arco sign, here in Van Nuys, becuase it reminds me of Narc which reflects badly on my community.
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Hey bob, the 'worst writer' you refer to is rockin' LAist w/ some of the best interviews this site has ever seen.
So DUDE, shut the fuck up if you can't criticize constructively.
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What's with all the negative comments here? I think these guys did a good thing. Why is it OK to use a term like girly-men when we all know it's a reference to gays? What's next, it being OK for an actor on a Golden Globe-winning show calling a fellow actor a FAGGOT? Get real. And PS, I also live around the corner from FB in WH and those signs were only up a week. It's a new promotion. (and I complained to the manager)
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I think those signs are offensive.
And no I'm not gay, but I will take a shot in the mouth to get ahead.
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The signs are juvenile. Not worthy of a mass boycott, but I think the men were right to complain. Or, at least well within their rights. I'm surprised that fatburger was as responsive as they were.
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i do NOT think "girly-men" is an obvious attack on gays. Not all gays are girly-acting, and not all straight men are macho.
i think it was Fatburger mocking the Governor in a smart-ass sorta way. just like the other fatburger signs, which are also smart-assed.
what is next??? the morbidly obese complaining that its called FATburger?
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Gosh, a couple of gay guys screaming and making hysterics and drama over a stupid burger chain poster? Shocking!
Thank GOD we have people like them to fight the big battles like this. Maybe they can have a parade or something or get a medal from Mayor Tony.