Don Perry, Chick-fil-A’s VP of Corporate Public Relations, has passed away after an apparent heart attack.
Erica M. Martinez, a Chick-fil-A spokeswoman, confirmed the news Friday afternoon in a statement to The Daily Caller.
“We are saddened to report the news to you that our dear friend Don Perry, vice president of public relations, passed away suddenly this morning,” she said. “Don was a member of our Chick-fil-A family for nearly 29 years.”
Martinez added: “For many of you in the media, he was the spokesperson for Chick-fil-A. He was a well-respected and well-liked media executive in the Atlanta and University of Georgia communities, and we will all miss him.”
Perry worked his way up from Chick-fil-A’s original PR staff to the top tier of the company ladder. His death leaves a void in the Chick-fil-A family, particularly in light of the restaurant chain’s escalating PR battle.
Twitterers paused to pay their respects:
So sad. Prayers for his family>>Chick-fil-A public relations leader Don Perry dies suddenly | http://t.co/eJvzessD http://t.co/RTjA75T0
— Laurie Bailey Vaughn (@LaurieBailey) July 27, 2012
RIP Don Perry! #ChickFilA
— Savannah (@thesavvy) July 27, 2012
https://twitter.com/cwick/status/228935278574845953
Chick-fil-A public relations leader Don Perry dies suddenly http://t.co/S4nF0D1h Man, what a tough way to go out. RIP Mr. Perry.
— Jared C. (@Jarism) July 27, 2012
https://twitter.com/ajcfoodbiz/status/228898664993677312
My thoughts and prayers are with the family of Don Perry.
— ?jenn (@jenreadsfiction) July 27, 2012
https://twitter.com/USElection_2012/status/228929328979775488
Despite perhaps disagreeing with Perry’s personal views, some on the Left put aside ideological differences and expressed their condolences:
Recommended
https://twitter.com/KarlFrisch/status/228926643597627393
https://twitter.com/theLeoTheory/status/228926424873062400
Unfortunately, those liberals were among very few who showed respect.
Wow. @TwitchyTeam will be busy compiling lefty hate tweets over the death of #ChickFilA's African-American PR VP. Sick people.
— jon gabriel (@exjon) July 27, 2012
As Jon predicted, Perry’s death brought out the worst in the Left.
https://twitter.com/AKMF27/status/228926133763186688
https://twitter.com/aurosan/status/228921533333118976
"Thank God I was on the right side of the gay marriage issue!" http://t.co/byA0xMv6 #Leykis #ChickFilA #PRguydead #gay #gaymarriage
— Tony Quarantino (@tomleykis) July 27, 2012
https://twitter.com/nichugme/status/228928112925224961
https://twitter.com/el_svid/status/228927951842967552
https://twitter.com/etfp/status/228931063462887424
Now there's a funeral WBC will be appearing at. RT @CStevens790 Chick-fil-A says Don Perry, vice president of public relations, has died.
— Talk Superstation (@TlkSuperstation) July 27, 2012
Oh yeah, the @ChickFilA Vice President of Public Relations has died. #irony
— The Martian Daily (@TheMartianDaily) July 27, 2012
The VP of @chickfila's PR just died of a heart attack. So non-shocking it's shocking.
— Liam (@liam_copeland) July 27, 2012
https://twitter.com/tommyisarealboy/status/228925718548054016
https://twitter.com/nanakepichu/status/228928487757594626
https://twitter.com/BINOBANGOUT/status/228926801412513792
Me thinks someone "upstairs" is not happy with @chickfila – "CHICK-FIL-A PR Honcho Dies of Heart Attack" http://t.co/mBc3AOyh via @TMZ
— Scott Barretto (@ScottBarretto) July 27, 2012
God hates homophobes. RT @CNBC: ALERT: Chick-fil-a says Vice President of Public Relations Don Perry passed away suddenly this morning.
— sqeptiq (@sqeptiq) July 27, 2012
"If I'm wrong about gay marriage, may God strike me down" – #ChickFilA spokesperson
— Bravo (@DrBravo2) July 27, 2012
https://twitter.com/grapeylyle/status/228928353464373248
Notable classy “comedian” Rob Delaney weighed in on Perry’s death with his trademark grace:
Defending bigotry IS stressful. RT @Slate: Chick-fil-A’s spokesman died of heart attack: http://t.co/nijLdi2Q
— rob delaney (@robdelaney) July 27, 2012
Despicable. We await the day when such vitriol is the exception rather than the rule. We will likely have to wait a very long time.
May Don Perry rest in peace. Our thoughts are with his friends and loved ones.