‘Not everything is woke’ says right-wing columnist on Cracker Barrel controversy
Cracker Barrel lost millions in a day after a disastrous rebrand sparks outrage among President Donald Trump’s 'Make America Great Again' (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
Cracker Barrel, the Southern-themed restaurant chain, announced a brand refresh, including a new minimalist logo and restaurant remodels, citing years of declining revenues and stock prices.
The changes sparked significant backlash from some conservative figures and MAGA supporters, who labelled the refresh as 'woke' and called for a boycott, drawing comparisons to the Bud Light controversy.
National Review staff writer Caroline Downey criticised this 'over-the-top outrage,' arguing that the term 'woke' is being overused and losing its meaning, despite acknowledging Cracker Barrel's potentially poor marketing execution.
Following the announcement, Cracker Barrel's share prices initially plunged by 15 per cent, though they recovered slightly to be down about 7 per cent by the end of the day.
The article highlights a broader trend of conservatives using the term 'woke' to deride anything that seemingly does not align with their viewpoint, citing other examples beyond Cracker Barrel.