Tearful apology from executive fired for verbally abusing Chick-fil-A employee after 'Same Sex Kiss Day' protests cause chaos
By James Nye
The man who lost his job after posting online his rant against a Chick-fil-A staff member has taken to the Internet again to express an apology for his actions.
Adam Smith, the former CFO of an Arizona-based medical device manufacturer, seemed contrite and expressed special praise for the Chick-fil-A employee who he berated for the chain's anti-gay marriage stance.
Revealing that he tried to say sorry in person to the staff member called Rachel at the Tucson drive-thru Chick-fil-A franchise, Adam Smith took the opportunity during his video to reaffirm his support of gay rights.
Adam Smith took to YouTube to express his sorrow after his rant towards a Chick-fil-A staff member appeared online
'Rachel, I am so very sorry for the way I spoke to you on Wednesday,' said Smith in his video which has been viewed over 300 times.
'You handled my frustrating rant with such dignity and composure.
'Every time I watch the video I'm blown away by, really the beauty in what you did, in your kindness and your patience with me.'
In the original video which caused Smith to lose his job with his company, Vante, he queues for a free promotional water at a Chick-fil-A before expressing his disdain for the firm's support for traditional Christian marriage.
After losing his job as a CFO at a Tucson, Arizona firm, Smith was contrite in his apology for his over-zealous actions towards the Chick-fil-A staff member called Rachel
Filmed by Smith on his own phone, the former CFO gets to the window of the drive-thru and starts to all-out bully the young female employee behind the counter, who remains calm and polite throughout the whole exchange.
He said: 'I don’t know how you live with yourself and work here. I don’t understand it. This is a horrible corporation with horrible values.'
The girl tells him repeatedly to have a nice day and that it is a pleasure to serve him as well as saying: 'I'm staying neutral on this subject. My personal beliefs don't belong in the workplace.'
As he drives off he tells the worker: 'I'm a nice guy by the way, and I'm totally heterosexual. Just can't stand the hate. It's gotta stop guys, stand up.'
In the original video posted to YouTube, Adam Smith goes to the Chick-Fil-A drive-through, orders water and proceeds to bully the young female employee who serves him
Polite: The Chick-fil-A employee called Rachel tells Smith it's her pleasure to serve him and to have a nice day despite his verbal abuse
In his apologetic video posted yesterday, Smith attempts to smooth over his attitude towards Chick-fil-A staff member Rachel.
'You should know that I never planned to say the things I said to you that day, and how I said them,' explained Smith.
'I planned to peacefully participate in the August 1st YouTube post where Jackson Pearce asked people to simply order a large water to show support for the gay community.
'But when I got to your window, after seeing all the people in and outside the restaurant that came to support Chick-fil-A, I lost it.
'I just lost it. I couldn't believe the number of people came out to support a corporation that associates themselves with anti-gay groups, like Exodus International and the American Family Association.
'And how did I lose it? By making you listen to my frustration and disgust. It wasn't right, and for that I am so sorry.'
Girl on girl: Hundreds of same sex couples flocked to Chick-fil-A to kiss in protest the firm's CEO anti-gay marriage stance
After the original video went viral, according to a MarketWire statement, Smith was fired from his job at Vante, Inc.
They released a statement saying: 'The actions of Mr Smith do not reflect our corporate values in any manner. Vante is an equal opportunity company with a diverse workforce, which holds diverse opinions.
'We respect the right of our employees and all Americans to hold and express their personal opinions, however, we also expect our company officers to behave in a manner commensurate with their position and in a respectful fashion that conveys these values of civility with others.'
Smith also reveals that he went to see Rachel the day he was fired but that she refused to speak to him and Smith acknowledges that he 'totally deserved the silent treatment.'
Explaining that he had originally wanted to post an apology the day his video was seen by hundreds of thousands online, Smith says that before his firm fired him they had told him to stay 'radio silent'.
Banners: A gay couple stand outside Chick-fil-A to support their right to love each other just as much as a heterosexual couple would
Hate: The protestors came out in force for the Same Sex Kiss Day at Chick-fil-A's across the nation
However, without a job, Smith was free to clarify questions posed to him online.
'When I first thought about participating in this protest, I was really excited,' answered Smith as to why he posted the video in the first place.
'I felt purpose in standing up against Chick-fil-A's funding of anti-human rights groups.
'I felt like it was the right thing to do — the human thing to do.
'After recording the conversation, my enthusiasm in standing up against Chick-fil-A was very high, and in that moment, I decided to post the video.
'For me, and at that moment, the main goal of supporting the gay community outweighed the collateral damage that Rachel became.
'And I literally just saw Rachel as collateral damage.'
Read more:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-21...l#ixzz22VwAyJgX 
