Barilla Head Clarifies View on Gays, After Call for Boycott

The head of a pasta making company, Barilla, which has a plant in Ames, has apologized for anti-gay statements he made after gay and lesbian groups called for a boycott of the company.

Guido Barilla said his company would never feature a gay family on its commercials and said on the radio:

“I would never make a spot with a homosexual family. Not out of a lack of respect but because I do not see it like they do. (My idea of) family is a classic family where the woman has a fundamental role,” Barilla said as reported by the Des Moines Register.

He also reportedly said:

“That’s fine if they like our pasta and our communication, they can eat them. Otherwise they can eat another pasta.”

After a backlash he posted an apology on the company's website: saying he regretted his insensitive comments and said they were not a genuine view of his opinion.