An upper management exec who posted a viral YouTube video in which he criticized a Chick-fil-A employee is on food stamps because no one will hire him.
Adam Smith, 37, was making $200,000 a year as a CFO, complete with $1 million in stock options, when he lambasted a drive-through worker at Chick-fil-A about the company’s stance against homosexuality.
By the time Smith drove back to work that afternoon in 2012, his life was forever changed by what he posted.
"I got into work and the receptionist, the first thing, big eyes, 'Adam, what did you do?' ... she said, 'The voicemail is completely full, and it's full of bomb threats,'"
Smith told ABC News' "20/20."
Smith got another job right away, but they fired him two weeks later when they figured out who he was.
Smith, his wife Amy, and their four children lost their home; they live in an RV now. Smith told “20/20” that he told potential employers who he was, but while many seemed to understand, they often said they didn’t want the possible problems.
"I don't regret the stand I took, but I regret ... the way I talked to her," he told "20/20." At the time, Smith apologized to the Chick-fil-A drive-thru worker for his actions.
Smith wrote a book, “A Million Dollar Cup of Water,” about what he learned through this experience. Although it has received numerous positive reviews, it had
72 one-star reviews on Amazon.com as of Monday.
Smith posted on Amazon: “Update as of 3/29/2015, 8:30pm, PT, regarding the many 1-star ratings my book has received since the 20/20 interview aired, I would like to note that I have sold 35 digital copies thus far, yet there are 63 1-star ratings on my book. This fascinates me! I encourage prospective purchasers to preview the book and make up their own minds rather than rely on the obvious attempt to discredit the book.”
© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.