Jim Davis, creator of “Garfield,” set off a wave of controversy across the nation in recent weeks by refusing to issue marriage licenses on Mondays, citing his personal beliefs.
“I strongly believe that marriages should only take place on Tuesdays through Sundays,” Davis said in a statement from Garfield Headquarters in Muncie, Indiana.
Davis’ actions were met with fierce opposition from protesters and government officials, including Indiana Governor Mike Pence.
“The law requires that marriage licenses be issued on every day of the week,” Pence explained. “Regardless of Mr. Davis’ personal feelings about Mondays, he has no right to deny couples their freedom to marry on any day they choose.”
“I can’t believe Davis would do something like this,” said Jordan Mitchell with his fiancée and fellow Garfield superfan Rebecca Lewis. “We had just finished a romantic lasagna dinner, and headed to Garfield HQ to get married. When Davis told us to come back tomorrow, we were heartbroken.”
“I haven’t been this upset since they canceled the third ‘Garfield’ movie,” Mitchell added.
Comics expert James McLarson says this type of behavior is nothing new from Davis.
“Jim Davis has been promoting his anti-Monday agenda on the comics page for years, and now he’s gone too far,” McLarson said, holding a stack of “Garfield” books as evidence.
Some have questioned why the creator of a comic strip is issuing marriage licenses at all, but Davis says it’s just his latest effort to expand the “Garfield” brand.
“For years, we’ve thrilled fans with official ‘Garfield’ toys, T-shirts, bumper stickers, toothbrushes and power tools,” Davis said while surrounded by hundreds of “Garfield” products. “Now, fans can take their ‘Garfield’ relationship to the next level with official marriage licenses, featuring paw prints and quotes from the fat cat himself.”
Davis’ supporters rallied around him at his Indiana home, cheering and singing the “Garfield” theme song. But their hero could soon be facing legal action.
Even when threatened with the possibility of jail time, Davis didn’t back down. Speaking before a judge Tuesday, he retained his anti-Monday stance.
“Complying with this law would violate a central principle of what ‘Garfield’ is all about,” Davis said. “This is who I am and what I believe: I hate Mondays.”