Cracker Barrel CEO says she feels ‘fired by America’ after backlash

Cracker Barrel CEO Julie Masino described feeling as if she had been “fired by America” ​​in an interview last week following backlash over the restaurant’s controversial redesign.

Masino discussed her leadership role with The Blaze’s Glenn Beck on Thursday, a position that Beck noted she still holds despite the controversy.

“Maybe it’s unfair of me to ask you this. Are you surprised you didn’t get fired?” he asked.

“I feel like America kicked me out,” Masino said with a laugh.

CRACKER BARREL’S STATEMENT ON LOGO BACKLACE IS “COOKED” OVER ONLINE COMMENTS

“This could be worse,” Beck said.

The Southern-style restaurant chain sparked backlash in August after changing its iconic “Uncle Herschel” chair logo, placing his arm on a barrel, and introducing a more modern dining design.

Massino, who was sitting next to senior vice president of store operations Doug Hessel, said she just wanted to “help people love this brand” the way she does, adding that she and her team never intended to redesign the entire restaurant.

CRACKER BARREL CEO breaks silence on U-TURN logo

Cracker Barrel CEO Julie Masino insisted they don’t plan to redesign the entire store. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

“I think a lot of people think that Doug and I and other people sit down and say: Let’s remake Cracker Barrel.” “Nothing could be further from the truth,” Massino said. “The idea for some of this actually came from a lot of the work we were doing on how to improve the food and the experience. When we were When we were talking to our guests, they said, “The stores could be a little more comfortable.” They’re really dark. “I can’t read the menu.”

She admitted they “missed the mark” and expressed remorse for disappointing customers.

“We are sorry that this is how people feel,” Massino said. “That wasn’t the intent. That wasn’t the intent. It hurts me, because I don’t want people to get mad at Cracker Barrel. Our job is to make people love Cracker Barrel the way our guests love it, right? And so, even when we try to invite new people, it’s always been about how we show them the magic of Cracker Barrel.”

Click here for more media and cultural coverage

Cracker Barrel began restoring its original designs in September. (Istock)

Cracker Barrel originally stood by the changes, claiming the backlash came from a “vocal minority.”

However, by September, Cracker Barrel began to restore its original logo and restaurant models.

Get FOX Business on the go by clicking here

“This is a humble brand with humble beginnings right here in the middle of this great country,” Massino said. “Other brands you walk into, you sit down and when you look around and see things on the walls, it’s the story of the brand. They tell you about the ingredients. They tell you about their founding, whatever they want you to think about. We don’t do that here at Cracker Barrel…that’s the story of America.”