MS Coast restaurant defends anti-LGBTQ+ video, cites Bible, declares ‘No Weirdos Zone’

A Mississippi Coast restaurant that made national headlines for posting a video that promoted a lunch special exclusively for straight couples has doubled down on their remarks days after issuing a now-deleted apology.

Last week, Darwell and Nettie Mechelle Yeager, a married couple who run Darwell’s Happiness Cafe in Long Beach, posted a video on the restaurant’s Facebook page, promoting a Celebration of Couple’s Day. Darwell specified that the special only applied to “the real kind of couple” — “husband, wife, boyfriend, girlfriend, guy and girl,” he said.

“We don’t do the trans or the lesbians or gays,” Nettie said. “I’m sorry. That’s down the street.”

Though the video was deleted by the restaurant, it recirculated after a nearby business, Trax Bar and Grill, posted a screen recording of the clip, describing comments made by the Yeagers as “disgusting” and criticizing their lack of inclusivity.

The surrounding community, business owners and LGBTQ+ groups quickly voiced their disapproval of the video, with some encouraging people to boycott the restaurant and support other nearby businesses that promote inclusivity. Within days, the video and the backlash it received drew numerous headlines, including some in the United Kingdom.

Now, the owners of Darwell’s Happiness Cafe are repeatedly defending their comments as nearby businesses say they are experiencing an influx of customers who have openly criticized the restaurant.

Darwell’s owners defend comments

Nettie deleted a statement she posted Thursday on her personal Facebook account, apologizing to anyone who was offended by their comments. Her profile picture is now of a sign that reads: “We reserve the right to refuse service to anyone.”

Meanwhile, Darwell has posted a series of comments on his personal Facebook account, claiming that he is being “bullied by the Left” for practicing freedom of speech and religion in the viral video. He argued that he made “a special for a certain group of people for a certain time like specials are meant to be.”

He also said that his restaurant is now a “No Weirdos Zone,” then in another post claimed he was following the teachings of the Bible.

The public Facebook page for Darwell’s is now private, only accepting members who adhere to four guideline rules — be kind and courteous, no hate speech or bullying, no promotions or spam and respect everyone’s privacy. The group has over 4,000 followers.

The restaurant was popular among locals and nationally recognized long before it faced scrutiny. Forbes magazine named it one of the restaurants of the year in 2016. Years prior, Guy Fieri praised the restaurant’s shrimp creole dish in an episode of “Diners, Drive-ins and Dives.”

LGBTQ+ groups, mayor speak out

The Gulf Coast Equality Council, a nonprofit organization for the LGBTQ+ community and its allies, released a statement about the video Thursday morning, encouraging people to “support LGBTQ+ owned and allied businesses that celebrate diversity.”

Molly Kester, the vice president of Gulf Coast Equality, said Monday morning that over 20 business have reached out, identifying as LGBTQ+ friendly or owned institutions.

When asked if the video could affect the tourism industry in Long Beach, Kester said she didn’t think that would be the case, noting that the city tends to be “progressive and open.”

She pointed to businesses that have combated the controversy with outspoken support toward the LGBTQ+ community.

Next month, local food influencers Your Barefoot Neighbor and Mississippi Kween, who responded to Darwell’s Happiness Cafe last week, are hosting “Love the Coast Tour” where participants will support inclusive bars and restaurants across the Coast. Trax Bar and Grill is also hosting an event named “Unity in the Community” that will feature a show by local drag queens.

Known for its outdoor events and restaurants, Long Beach is a longtime tourist destination that has seen a spike in population in recent years. Harrison County, where Long Beach is located, has increased by about 5,000 people in the last four years, with newcomers moving in from Louisiana and across the United States.

Though he described the comments made by the Yeagers as “terrible” Monday morning, Long Beach mayor George Bass does not think it will impact the city’s tourism industry. If anything, he added, the comments will affect Darwell’s Happiness Cafe.

Bass said that residents and tourists “can discern for themselves whether they want to go spend money there or not.”

“That’s an individual decision. The fact of the matter is we have a great number of wonderful quality restaurants here in Long Beach besides his,” he said.

The mayor’s office is currently not planning on releasing a statement, but Bass apologized to anyone who was offended by the Yeagers’ remarks.

“That is not Long Beach,” Bass said. “That is not who we are.”

Influx of customers at nearby businesses

William Rester, who owns two businesses with his wife, Brooke, near Darwell’s — Dolce Bakeshop and Radish Restaurant — saw an influx of customers at his eateries over the weekend. Some mentioned they were against the Yeagers’ comments.

“I hate it for Long Beach to have to kind of go through this, but at the same time, it’s really brought out a lot of good in people,” Resner said Monday morning. “And we’re seeing a lot of people coming into town to just kind of try the other businesses.”

Rester was one of many to speak out against the viral video on social media. In one post, the Facebook page for Radish promoted its Couples Day, an inclusive dining special for all.

“I wish that, as a business owner, we didn’t have to say that everybody was welcome,” Resner said, “That it was just implied.”