Dive Brief:
- Guido Barilla, president of Barilla pasta company, revealed on Italian radio program "La Zanzara" Thursday that his company would never feature a same-sex couple in an advertisement.
- Barilla said the decision isn't about "a lack of respect" but is due to his idea of "a classic family."
- Barilla, who runs the world's largest pasta company with his two brothers, added that everyone can't always be pleased and that if the lack of same-sex couples in his company's advertising is problematic, those offended could eat another pasta.
Dive Insight:
Though Barilla did say he favored gay marriage (but not adoption), his comments aren't likely to sit well with the world's LGBT community. Just two months ago, Stoli Vodka faced backlash and boycotts just for being a product of Russia, a country where anti-LGBT legislation and violence have made headlines in the past year.