Pete Buttigieg Says He Prefers Popeyes over Chick-fil-A at Forum for Black Voters

Former Mayor Pete Buttigieg said Monday he preferred Popeyes fried chicken over Chick-fil-A during a forum for black voters in Des Moines, Iowa.

During a lightning round of short questions at the Black and Brown Presidential Forum hosted by Vice, Buttigieg paused and replied, “Popeyes,” when asked to choose between Popeyes and Chick-fil-A.

Buttigieg was criticized last year for defending Chick-fil-A’s chicken.

“I do not approve of their politics, but I kind of approve of their chicken,” Buttigieg said when asked about Chick-fil-A during an interview with The Breakfast Club radio show in March 2019.

The openly gay mayor suggested at the time he could broker a “peace deal” between the gay community and the fast food company, which donated money to Christian organizations.

“Maybe if nothing else, I can build that bridge,” he joked. “Maybe I’ll be in a position to broker that peace deal.”

In a second interview in September, Buttigieg admitted he was ignorant of Popeyes introducing their own chicken sandwich, which some gay activists declared as the “gay-friendly” chicken sandwich.

“Did you have the Popeyes chicken sandwich?” the interviewer, Charlamagne Tha God, asked.

“No, what is it?” Buttigieg replied.

“You haven’t seen it?” a surprised Charlamagne replied. “I’m sure your team has seen the Popeyes chicken sandwich!”

“Why wasn’t I briefed on this?” Buttigieg replied, looking at his staff.

Buttigieg was also ridiculed for asking Al Sharpton in April if it was okay to eat fried chicken with his hands.