Subway is being accused of religious discrimination against Christians after a Wisconsin branch refused to serve customers because of the anti-abortion and anti-gay messages on its T-shirts.
Street preacher David Grisham was in town for the Republican National Convention when he and three friends walked into a Waunakee branch of the fast food chain to pick up a sandwich.
However, they had to go elsewhere when a young woman behind the counter confirmed that she refused to serve the group because of the messages on their T-shirts.
The world’s largest restaurant owner has now been hit with a flood of angry reactions from Christians after a video of the exchange went viral, with some warning the company of a Bud Light-style boycott.
“I don’t care what Subway says,” one person wrote. “I will never set foot in one of their filthy stores again.”
The young Subway worker sparked online anger after he refused to serve the group of Christians
The waitress at the Wisconsin branch said she objected to the messages on the T-shirts
Grisham, from Amarillo, Texas, insisted his group was “not intentionally trying to antagonize anyone.” Their neon T-shirts bore slogans such as “abortion is murder” and a paraphrase of Romans 1, which condemned homosexuality as a sin.
“A local pastor bought us dinner and we hadn’t even been in there a minute and hadn’t said a word to anyone,” he wrote on Facebook.
‘She saw our shirts and started swearing and said she wouldn’t serve us.
‘REASONABLE people are reasonable when it comes to disagreements and are professional enough to simply help someone without letting their emotions run wild and whining in public.’
Title II of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits restaurants from discriminating against customers on the basis of religion.
But in 2022, the Supreme Court ruled that Denver baker Jack Phillips had the right to refuse an order for a wedding cake celebrating a gay couple’s marriage.
According to the American Civil Liberties Union, the baker was advocating for a “license to discriminate,” which could have far-reaching implications beyond just gay rights.
But in a landmark case, the court ruled 7-2 that his refusal was protected by constitutional guarantees of freedom of speech and exercise of religion.
In the video, titled “Subway Karen Refuses Service to Christians in Wanaukee, WI” (sic), the woman behind the counter nods as a voice asks, “Are you refusing to serve customers?”
Street preacher David Grisham from Amarillo, Texas, denied that he and his group were trying to be provocative with their T-shirts condemning abortion and homosexuality.
In 2022, the Supreme Court ruled that Denver baker Jack Phillips had the right to refuse an order for a wedding cake celebrating a gay couple’s marriage.
“She refuses to serve us,” the man says to his friend.
“What are you talking about?” the friend asks, “so we should go somewhere else?”
“I want her to say it again,” says the man filming.
“I refuse to serve you,” the woman confirms as she continues preparing another customer’s sandwich.
When asked why, she replies, “That’s a personal matter,” to which her frustrated customer asks, “Because of my T-shirt?”
“Yes,” she answers.
“Okay, Subway Corp. will be happy to hear that,” the man says.
Subway franchisee River Subs, which operates 48 locations, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy last month. Some former customers now seem determined that more will follow.
“Subway, I urge you to get ahead of this!” wrote one. “It’s an ugly, ugly sight, and Taco Bell is right across the street. Easy switch.”
“Does Subway discriminate against people who wear a hijab, yamaka or other religious symbols?” asked another.
“If he wore a gay pride shirt and an employee refused to help him, in some states they would call the police for discrimination,” claimed a third.
“I work at Subway in Dawson Springs,” Laura Gray wrote from Kentucky, “and if you’re in the area, you’re more than welcome to come over.”
The world’s largest restaurateur has now been hit by a flood of angry backlash from Christians, with some warning the company is at risk of a Bud Light-style boycott
But not all Christians appreciated Grisham and his friends, who posed for a photo outside the facility in their T-shirts immediately after the meeting.
“Subway will not be on your side, and no other reasonable person will,” one person wrote.
“I always find it hilarious when people like you guys purposefully try to stir people up to get a reaction. You are not Christians in any way.”
“I would rather see some radical love shown here in Waunakee in the name of Christ than have a traveling show of provocateurs come through,” wrote another.
Dailymail.com has reached out to Subway for comment.