Once again, the slippery slope of wokeness rears its head, this time engulfing a beloved Southern institution: Cracker Barrel. This saga of corporate missteps is playing out like a reality show, where the feminist CEO appears to have accidentally tripped into a pit of misjudgment. Rethinking the classic appeal of country comforts, Cracker Barrel tried to dance to the beat of left-leaning drum rolls, only to end up fumbling over its own biscuits.
Everyone’s favorite Southern-themed restaurant, Cracker Barrel, went all-in on a rebranding strategy that raised more eyebrows than forks. The initiative involved not just a new logo, but also a rather expansive embrace of various pride and diversity groups, echoing what some perceive as unnecessary wokeness. It wasn’t long before this new direction caught the attention of former President Donald Trump, who advised them to admit their error and revive their old-school charm. Such a public endorsement of common sense actually jolted the restaurant’s stock back to life—even if temporarily.
The intricate spectacle quickly turned to intrigue as the Cracker Barrel website enjoyed its own moment in the spotlight. Page after page dedicated to various diversity and inclusion initiatives seemingly took a mysterious exit from the site. This wasn’t a vanishing act applauded by many weary of wokeness, but alas, it was uncovered that these pages had just moved house. With a sleight of hand worthy of a stage magician, URLs quietly morphed from “inclusion” to “belonging,” fooling everyone into a brief, albeit premature, sigh of relief.
Unfortunately, the drama didn’t stop at head-scratching URL changes. The boardroom brewing of Cracker Barrel also faced scrutiny once news broke about a board member’s deep ties to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives. One would think running a homey country store wouldn’t need such extensive DEI dabbling, but here we are. Critics argue that instead of focusing on what has fundamentally made them successful—comfort food and warm hospitality—Cracker Barrel appears more interested in chasing left-wing victories.
Meanwhile, down at their branches, the real victims of this brand bungle are the hardworking employees who find their tables emptier than ever. With regulars turned rebels over the bungled rebrand, these servers aren’t seeing the bustling Saturday nights they once did. As they wait for the corporate higher-ups to course-correct, the message from patrons seems loud and clear: leave the politicking to the politicians, and get back to serving comfort as America’s favorite country inn.
