[caveat emptor]

How could it have been retribution when they dropped the Henson toys before the controversy began?

It had to have been or it wouldn't have been "confirmation that his restaurant donated to religious organizations that fight against gay marriage."

The chain last week pulled the Jim Henson Company-produced finger puppets that were being placed in childrens' meals, officially citing safety concerns; the move, however, was largely viewed as retribution for the puppet and production studio's very public rebuke of the fast food chain's president, Dan Cathy, confirmation that his restaurant donated to religious organizations that fight against gay marriage.

[Ingtar]

The comments came on 7/24. The puppets were recalled on 7/19. How could CFA then be enacting retribution for something that had not happened yet?