UPDATE: McDonald’s has urgently pulled its AI-generated Christmas advertisement following an intense backlash from viewers. The controversial ad, which featured a choir singing carols outside a McDonald’s, was uploaded to the company’s Netherlands YouTube channel on December 6 but was removed just three days later due to widespread criticism.
The backlash erupted online as viewers expressed their discontent with the ad’s use of generative AI, which many found unsettling. The video depicted the “bad side” of Christmas with scenes of terrible weather, traffic jams, and even accidents, all set to a twisted version of the classic carol “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year.” The unsettling visuals and eerie animations led viewers to label the ad as “creepy” and “soulless.”
“This is the most god-awful ad I’ve seen this year,” said Theodore McKenzie, who shared the video on social media, adding that it was worse than Coca-Cola’s previous AI attempts. The ad’s message, which implied that Christmas is only enjoyable at McDonald’s, further fueled the outrage.
Despite the growing criticism, the production company behind the ad, The Sweetshop, defended their work. CEO Melanie Bridge previously stated that the team of ten specialists worked tirelessly for seven weeks to produce the commercial, generating thousands of takes in what they viewed as a “high-craft production.” However, this defense did little to quell the negative response, and their statement has since been deleted.
As the ad vanished from YouTube, it was rapidly reuploaded by various users, reflecting a desire to hold The Sweetshop accountable for their controversial approach to holiday advertising. Critics are concerned that such AI-generated content could set a troubling precedent for future advertising practices.
McDonald’s is not alone in this AI advertising trend. Coca-Cola has faced backlash for two consecutive years over its AI-generated holiday ads, while Disney recently announced a massive $1 billion deal with OpenAI to enhance its generative video capabilities.
As the fallout continues, McDonald’s has confirmed that it is no longer using the AI-generated Christmas ad. A spokesperson for McDonald’s Netherlands stated,
“We have decided to remove our AI-generated Christmas advert.”
The decision to pull the ad comes at a crucial time for brands navigating the integration of AI in their marketing strategies. With consumer trust at stake, companies must balance innovation with authenticity in their advertising efforts.
Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story as the impact of AI in advertising continues to unfold.
