Dairy Queen “Politically Incorrect” Sign Stirs Up a Blizzard

A “politically incorrect” sign posted by an owner of a Dairy Queen franchise in Kewaskum, Wisconsin has generated a blizzard of attention on social media after an out-of-town customer complained it was offensive.

The sign, which has been posted on the restaurant’s front door for four years, notifies incoming customers the business has been known to say things like “Merry Christmas,” “Happy Easter,” and “God Bless America.”

Owner Kevin Scheunemann told CBS 58 News he is trying to be “transparent about the views of the owner and staff supporting God and country.”

But Ashley Coleman from Oregon found the signage to be “extremely offensive,” and uploaded a picture of it to DQ’s official Facebook page. The post, which has now been removed, received thousands of likes, shares, and comments, overwhelmingly in support of Scheunemann and his right to free speech.

In response, the Dairy Queen corporation—headquartered out of Edina, Minnesota—sent CBS 58 News the following statement:

American Dairy Queen Corporation does not encourage our independently owned and operated franchisees to post non-business related messages in their locations or on their external reader boards. This sign expresses the views of this independent owner only and does not speak for ADQ Corporation or any of our other independent franchise owners. We expect our franchisees and employees to treat every person who walks through our doors with the utmost dignity and respect. Nothing less is acceptable.

If this sign causes you to melt, Scheunemann welcomes you to contact him and “arrange a designated ‘snowflake safe space.'”