New McDonald’s Ad Slammed As “Grim”, “Insensitive” And “Arrogant”
A new McDonald’s ad out of the UK spruiking the often maligned Filet-O-Fish has been slammed as insensitive and “bloody grim” after it parodied a son who was mourning his father’s death.
The somewhat macabre ad by Leo Burnett in the UK shows a mother and son reminiscing about their loss with constant reminders the son isn’t a patch on his dead dad. Check it out below:
As the mother and son stroll to their local McDonald’s the mother reveals her deceased husband was a snappy dresser, great at sport and a winner with the ladies – all things the grieving son is not.
On arrival at the restaurant, we discover the only similarity father and son had was an affection for Fillet-O-Fishes. “That was your dad’s favourite, too,” the mother explains.
The prime-time ad was first shown to an audience of millions during Britain’s Got Talent on Saturday evening and has since been pulled.
Shocked viewers raced to social media to register their disgust that death and bereavement was being used to flog hamburgers.
“I lost my father when I was a child and I find the latest McDonald’s advert disgusting and offensive. Shame on you!,” one man posted on Twitter.
“Who needs 2 parents when you have McNuggets… that was bloody grim,” said another.
“Not one to be easily offended, but new @McDonalds advert is cynical exploitation of a deeply emotional situation for brand promotion,” another said.
The Advertising Standards Authority in the UK has revealed it has received a number of complaints about the ad and it is now being investigated.
Grief Encounter, a UK bereavement charity, told the BBC that it had received “countless calls” from people who had been left distraught by the ad.
A McDonald’s spokesperson said: “We apologise for any upset this advert has caused. This was by no means an intention of ours and we regret some have interpreted it in a negative way.”
Please login with linkedin to comment
Advertising Standards Bureau Employer Branding INDEPTH Swithced on MediaLatest News
SCA Appoints Cathrine McVeigh To Head Of Audio Production And Operations
SCA has announced the appointment of Cathrine McVeigh to head of audio production and operations. She will be part of the content leadership team. In the newly created role, McVeigh will oversee the creation of SCA’s new audio production and content operations hub and lead a combined team across the country to deliver a rapidly […]
Thursday TV Wrap: Thursday Night AFL Scores For Seven In Clear Nightly Win
Last night’s footy match between Brisbane and Geelong was the most-watched non-news of the night, nabbing a nice 582,000 viewers for Seven. In recent weeks, MasterChef has dominated the Thursday night entertainment, but last night slotted in the ratings behind both the footy and The Chase to score 541,000 viewers overall. Seven News came out on top […]
Google Delays Third-Party Cookie Deprecation Until 2023
Google has officially announced it will be delaying the deprecation of third-party cookies, pushing the changes back to 2023. When Google first announced it would be getting rid of cookies on Chrome back in early 2020, some questioned the feasibility of the proposed timeline of two years. In an announcement on Thursday, Google’s privacy engineering […]
THIS IS IT: Entries To B&T’s Best Of The Best Awards Close Today!
We’ve dished out plenty of reminders, but believe us when we say that NOW is the time to submit your entry for B&T’s inaugural Best of the Best Awards. If you’re still going on your submission, it’s time to hit the panic button (but make sure you also hit the ‘submit’ button). And, if you’re confident […]
10 And SCA Confirm Two Year Regional TV Deal
Southern Cross Austereo and Network 10 have agreed to a two-year regional affiliation deal. The deal will come into play on July 1, and see 10 extend the content it broadcasts from Channel 10, 10 Bold, 10 Peach and 10 Shake into areas of regional Queensland, Southern New South Wales, and Victoria. 10 currently has […]
Cannes Lions Live Day Four Sees Wins For AKQA Melbourne, Ogilvy Sydney, Clemenger BBDO And Special Group Sydney
During the penultimate day of Cannes Lions Live, Cannes Lions has announced the winners of a slew of categories. The Brand Experience and Activation Lions, Creative Business Transformation Lions, Creative eCommerce Lions, Creative Effectiveness Lions, Mobile Lions, Innovation Lions, and Radio & Audio Lions winners were all announced in the Awards Show, streamed from Cannes, […]
Australian Retailers – How Can You Stand Out From The Pack On Social?
At Zavy, we track the movings and shakings of brands across a range of industries on our social scoreboards. We want to see brands use social media as a space for real brand building and connecting with people – after all, that’s what it was created for. In their ground-breaking advertising report, The Long and […]
Chobani Unveils New Brand Campaign Via Cummins&Partners
Cummins&Partners has redefined what the next decade will look like for Chobani in its new brand campaign Food Made Good. Building on the four years of partnership between Cummins&Partners and Chobani, this campaign was born through strategic leadership to uncover the truth at the core of the brand and bring it to life through a […]
News & Rescue Crews Race To Save Drowning Woman – Only To Discover A Floating Sex Doll!
Japanese rescue crews and journalists have been left red-faced after they arrived to a report of a woman drowning in a local harbour only to discover it was a life-like sex doll bobbing about in the water. The incident happened in the harbour city of Hachinohe on Japan’s north-east coast. “The woman” in the water […]
me&u Appoints Clementine Churchill To Head Of Marketing
me&u, Australia’s first and leading mobile ordering and payment platform, has appointed Clementine Churchill as Head of Marketing as they continue to drive rapid growth and expansion in Australia and new international markets. A highly experienced marketing leader and recognised industry thought leader, Churchill joins me&u from My Muscle Chef, one of Australia’s top rated […]
MILO Asks Fans To Compete To Win #TheMILOCup In New Campaign Via Ogilvy
MILO is on the search for Australia’s best made MILO, calling on fans to share their creations for the chance to win #TheMILOCup, via Ogilvy Sydney. This integrated campaign follows on from the success of last year’s ‘Hot v Cold’ campaign, which encouraged Aussies to settle the debate on whether MILO is best enjoyed hot […]
New ANZ Research Shows That LGBTQ+ Visual Representation Relies On Stereotypes
New research from Getty Images, a world leader in visual communications, has found that LGBTQ+ representation in ANZ remains low and stereotypical. It’s 2021 – this needs to change – especially in marketing and advertising. In partnership with GLAAD, the LGBTQ+ media advocacy organisation, Getty Images has launched a full-spectrum Guidebook in direct response to […]
Nikki Warburton Departs Audi Australia After Three Years Spent Embracing Vorsprung Durch Technik
Audi CMO Nikki Warburton has left the business. Sadly, didn't receive Sound Of Music on Blu-ray as departing gift.
Lego Announces Plans To Start Making Bricks From Old Drink Bottles
Once again the Scandinavians proving they're on it when it comes to the environment, DIY furniture & adult erotica.
NESCAFÉ Says ‘Now’s Good’ In New Work Via Saatchi & Saatchi
As any visitor to the B&T office knows, you'll get a NESCAFÉ, a Scotch finger & a rendition of Cher's "Turn Back Time".
Craig McLachlan Accused Of Groping Another Woman
Surely, serious concerns should've been raised about Craig McLachlan's behaviour when he recorded "Mona" back in 1990?
REMINDER: Entries For B&T’s Best Of The Best Awards Close Tomorrow!
Has a colleague recently won a 'I look like my cat' competition? That's the temerity required to win a Best of the Best.
More Heat For Coke’s Customisation Tool As It Bans ‘Palestine’, ‘Black Lives Matter’ And ‘Mohammed’, But Not ‘White Pride’
Coke's week from hell continues apace! However, it's primed & ready to remind Pepsi of its own 'Kendall Jenner' episode.
“You Cannot Be Serious!” New Campaign Shows Wimbledon Is A Global Force
Wimbledon kicks off NEXT Monday with high hopes the Aussie male contingent will completely embarrass us all as usual.
Marks & Spencer Confronts Traditional Classifications Of ‘Nude’ In New Underwear Range
If Marks & Spencer excels at anything it's quality underpants, Christmas puddings & white nostalgic British imperalism.
Oasis Still Flogging Back Catalogue In Schmaltzy Outing For Bank Ad
B&T says crank this Oasis-led bank ad up to full volume. At least until a colleague says "turn that f@cking shit down".
Dir David Attenborough’s Life Stories Launches On LiSTNR
Natural historian Sir David Attenborough is one of the most commanding and respected storytellers in the world and now the iconic series, David Attenborough Life Stories, is available on LiSTNR as part of SCA’s recently announced partnership with the BBC. David Attenborough Life Stories is a series of talks on the natural histories of creatures and […]
Menulog Makes Key Marketing Promotions
Menulog has doubled down on its marketing support for restaurant partners, with the promotion of Senior Marketing Manager, Rami Tamer, to a newly created role of ‘Head of Partner Marketing’, as well as the promotion of former-Blue 449 Performance Manager, Jaryd Buggins. In the new Head of Partner Marketing role, Rami will lead a team […]
Barry Drinkwater Leaves ARN Brisbane After 28 Years, Will Hand Over Reins To Alisson Longhurst
ARN has announced Barry Drinkwater will be handing over his content director reins at 97.3FM and 4KQ to respected radio executive, Alisson Longhurst. Drinkwater has had a stellar career in radio spanning more than four decades, and was acknowledged as one of Australia’s Top 20 Content Directors by Radio Today in 2020. He began his radio career […]
Why Pissed Off Customers Can Be A Brand’s Biggest Fan
Do your customers hate your guts? Don't send them faecal matter in the post says this pro, rather harness their power.
The Big Issue Celebrates 25th Anniversary With New Campaign, ’25 Years Big’, Via Town Square And Carat
Australia’s largest social enterprise is turning 25. On the anniversary of Australia’s first Big Issue magazine being sold on the steps of Melbourne’s Flinders Street Station in June 1996, Town Square has created a campaign to mark the occasion. 25 Years Big is a celebratory statement of pride, rendered in the iconic Big Issue logo […]
Australian Radio Industry Joins Global Working Group On Android Automotive
The Australian commercial radio industry has joined a global working group of broadcasters, carmakers and tech experts collaborating on the innovation of radio in Android Automotive. Android Automotive is Google’s infotainment operating system which is being built into new connected cars. Industry body Commercial Radio Australia is part of the working group, led by the […]
“Man Of The Year!” Vox-Popped Pensioner’s Heartwarming Views On Immigration Becomes Viral Smash
B&T has chosen to lead with these delightful, life-affirming words of wisdom. And let's be honest, we hate that shit.
SBS Appoints Head And Commissioning Editor Of Scripted, Boosting Drama Team
Want to feign being smarter than you really are? Well, you could watch SBS or listen to Radiohead's earlier stuff.
Amy Shark, Delta Goodrem And Guy Sebastian To Guest Host iHeart Radio’s TikTok Trending
iHeart Radio wheels out Oz music royaty in Amy, Delta & Guy. Yes, Guy's arguably more the 'Prince Andrew' of the three.
