Anita Bryant, the Grammy-nominated singer and one-time face of orange juice commercials, passed away on December 16, 2024, at 84. She died of cancer at her home in Edmond, Oklahoma, though her family didn’t share the news until January 9, 2025. Born on March 25, 1940, in Barnsdall, Oklahoma, Anita made her mark as a singer with hits like ‘Till There Was You’ and ‘Paper Roses,’ even winning Miss Oklahoma at 18.
While Anita found success in music and as a cultural figure, she became a divisive figure in the late ’70s for her strong anti-LGBTQ+ activism, which overshadowed much of her career. She leaves behind four kids, two stepdaughters, and seven grandkids. Her family hopes her legacy includes her Christian faith and entertainment contributions.
Anita Bryant’s ‘Pie in the Face’ Incident in 1977: A Moment That Defined a Movement
Back on October 14, 1977, Anita Bryant had one of the wildest, most talked-about moments of her career while on a press tour in Des Moines, Iowa. She was giving a speech for her “Save Our Children” campaign, which was all about repealing anti-discrimination laws that protected the LGBTQ+ community. That’s when gay rights activist Tom Higgins stepped in and hit her square in the face with a banana cream pie.
Visibly shocked, Bryant tried to laugh it off with a quick quip: “At least it’s a fruit pie,” but the comment rubbed people the wrong way—it came across as dismissive and carried some heavy undertones. She ended up crying on camera, praying for Higgins, and asking for him to be “delivered from his deviant lifestyle.”
45 years ago today: anita bryant, a singer who became famous for her national “crusade against homosexuality,” was pied on national TV by a gay guy posing as a reporter pic.twitter.com/FVGRPWY11t
— matt (@mattxiv) October 14, 2022
The pie-throwing turned into a legendary moment of protest for LGBTQ+ advocates, symbolizing the growing anger at Bryant’s anti-LGBTQ+ efforts. While it seemed like a goofy stunt, it really shone a light on her campaigns’ bigotry and amped up visibility for LGBTQ+ rights. As for Bryant, she tried to frame it as standing firm in her beliefs, but her reputation took a major hit and never quite bounced back.
Orange Juice and Activism: The End of Anita Bryant’s Golden Career
In 1969, Anita Bryant became the face of Florida Citrus, turning orange juice into a wholesome, all-American breakfast staple. Her catchy line, “Breakfast without orange juice is like a day without sunshine,” made her a household name. But things took a dark turn in the late 1970s when her anti-gay activism flipped the script.
Bryant led the “Save Our Children” campaign in Florida, fighting to overturn a law in Dade County that banned discrimination against LGBTQ+ people. She stirred up controversy with claims like, “homosexuals cannot reproduce, so they must recruit.” While her stance won support from some conservatives, it also ignited a nationwide outcry.
The LGBTQ+ community fought back with a boycott of Florida orange juice, and even bars joined in, swapping screwdriver cocktails for “Anita Bryant cocktails”—vodka and apple juice. The boycott hit Florida Citrus hard, and by the early 1980s, they cut ties with Bryant, dropping her $100,000-a-year gig. After that, her attempts to revive her career never took off, and her name became more linked to hate than music or sunshine.
Anita Bryant’s Life Beyond the Controversy: A Legacy of Faith and Turmoil
Singer Anita Bryant, an Anti-Gay rights crusader, has died at the age of 84. pic.twitter.com/MQBBXDZAIF
— Pop Base (@PopBase) January 9, 2025
Even with all the controversy, Anita Bryant’s earlier accomplishments in music and entertainment were pretty impressive. She had an incredible voice from a young age, which led to TV appearances and a string of hit records in the ‘50s and ‘60s. She even performed at the White House for President Lyndon B. Johnson and co-hosted the Orange Bowl Parade for nine years straight. On top of that, she regularly joined Bob Hope’s USO tours to entertain troops overseas.
But after her entertainment career fell apart, things got rough for Bryant. She declared bankruptcy in the late ‘90s and later started Anita Bryant Ministries International in 2006, focusing on religious work. Despite efforts to reinvent herself—writing memoirs and promoting Christian values—she remained strongly associated with her anti-LGBTQ+ activism.
Her influence goes beyond her time, as many of her arguments about homosexuality and morality are still echoed in today’s politics. For example, her rhetoric helped shape discussions around Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” bill and similar policies. Whether you see her as a pioneer in entertainment or a divisive figure, there’s no denying Anita Bryant left a complicated and controversial legacy.
