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People Are Furious Over This Controversial McDonald’s Ad For All The Legit Reasons

By Sara Salman
December 12, 2017
4 minutes read

So, McDonald’s just came up with an out of the norm idea for their new ad. Known for their cheerful and happy go lucky messages attached with their juicy burgers, this time they related food with a sentiment that turned out to be a disaster. But all said and done; there is no such thing as bad publicity.

By the way, look at this beauty before anything!

Coming up with pretty upbeat ads to target families is what McDonald’s has been doing over the years. Building their brand image and trust for whole families have been their primary goal ever since the beginning. But in an attempt to target family emotions, their strategy spun more towards criticism this time.

The ad features a young boy walking with his mother and asking questions about his father.

So it all begins as we watch a boy and his mother taking a stroll while having a chat about the boy’s father. His father died early. The boy was intrigued to know more about his father in the talk, and he kept on questioning his mom about his father.

The boy’s obvious attempt of longing some connection with his father makes us feel his sorrow.

At last, until the time he orders a fish burger, and his mom tells him that his Dad liked the same burger too.

Well.. Yes!

Honestly, finding any small things common between the two would have appeared cute but what really confused people here was how would that encourage people to eat at McDonald’s.

If you found this attempt of McDonald’s to get the attention of kids with dead parents weird, then you have people who share the same thoughts over this.

can’t believe @McDonaldsUK successfully triggered me to the extent i’ve written 4 tweets about them

— Callum (@Callum_BTN) May 16, 2017

Or maybe they had extra money on their hands with an intention to dedicate it to such kids, so they don’t feel alone? Let’s not be biased in our judgement.

People came out with rage saying that there was no need to drag that subject here

genuinely in shock at @McDonalds most recent advert

forgot losing a parent at a young age is fixed by a filet o fish

smfh

— Callum (@Callum_BTN) May 16, 2017

People with similar real-life experiences joined in with their point of views.

I lost my father when I was a child and I find the latest McDonald’s advert disgusting and offensive. Shame on you! #mcdonalds #badtaste

— The Midgers ???? (@midgersbtfc06) May 14, 2017

Well, you must be careful while addressing something to a first world country.

A bit dodgy. Hmm.

That McDonald’s advert is a bit dodgy isn’t it? Kinda like saying yeah bereavement sucks but a hamburger will sort that right out, bit icky

— JamesPetford (@Jamespetford) May 16, 2017

Well, of course, McDonald’s did realize their mistake, but it was too late.

.@McDonalds advert is totally inappropriate using children’s grief to sell burgers @cbukhelp Complaint lodged with @Ofcom

— Diana O’Connor (@DianaOC09847368) May 12, 2017

When the water is above your head, you just close your eyes and sink.

Even if they removed it, the internet was there to remember forever.

I genuinely don’t think I’ve ever seen anything as cynical and exploitative as the new @McDonalds advert. Shameless, even by their standards

— Jack Alex Turner (@JackAlexTurner) May 12, 2017

In the end, McDonald’s reassured to withdraw the ad from TV and cinema with their official statement below:

“We can confirm today that we have taken the decision to withdraw our ‘Dad’ TV advert. The advert will be removed from all media, including TV and cinema, completely and permanently this week.
“It was never our intention to cause any upset. We are particularly sorry that the advert may have disappointed those people who are most important to us – our customers.
“Due to the lead-times required by some broadcasters, the last advert will air today, May 17. We will also review our creative process to ensure this situation never occurs again.”