McDonald’s Faces Flak For Ad Showing ‘Love Story’ Between Customer And Staff

Burger giant McDonald’s has become quite popular in India with multiple chains and outlets across the country. Countless people throng McDonald’s for a quick and inexpensive meal that is tasty and good quality too. Recently, however, the fast food chain has come under the lens for a new advertisement that they shared on social media. In the ad campaign, they showed a ‘love story’ brewing between a male customer and a female staff member. The ad has received plenty of flak and mixed responses from users. Take a look:

Sometimes, the greatest love stories start with the tiniest things – a glance, a smile, a meal. Watch this unusual date and find out how a meal can give you #MoreForLess at just Rs.179! Visit a McDonald’s near you and get McVeggie Meals @ Rs.179https://t.co/nXOWHHIgGZ— McDonald’s India (@mcdonaldsindia) June 5, 2023

Also Read: “Most Expensive McDonald’s I’ve Ever Had”: Customer Fined INR 10K For Eating Slowly
“Date… Sort of,” they titled the campaign. “Sometimes, the greatest love stories start with the tiniest things – a glance, a smile, a meal. Watch this unusual date and find out how a meal can give you #MoreForLess at just Rs.179! We warn you, there’s gonna be a lot of blushing,” they wrote in the caption of the video shared on June 5.
In the clip, we could see a young boy ordering a McDonald’s meal for himself. He placed an order and then smiled at the young lady serving him. In no time, he finished off his meal and came back to place another order. When another male staff member offered to take his order, he refused and continued to stand in the same queue, simply so that he would get to talk to her again.
The video advertisement shared by McDonald’s has already received over 164k views and plenty of comments on social media. Many pointed out that the campaign was in bad taste and created an unsafe working environment for female gig workers, who were already working in tough conditions with low pay. “This will, of course, lead to your team members getting harassed. May want to think this campaign through a bit,” commented one user. “This is outrageous and disgusting beyond words. You are objectifying your female staff for profit by suggesting your customers can flirt and find a date here,” added another one.
Take a look at the reactions.

What is this. What kind of people approved this campaign ????‍???? pic.twitter.com/7ZaoitYlDx— Chirag Barjatya (@chiragbarjatyaa) June 7, 2023

This sends a wrong precedence to a society who already see gig workers as a low life individuals who could be exploited. I have seen guys flirting with servers to flight attendants and this ad will give affirmation to their actions— Psycho_Math (@psych0_Math) June 7, 2023

I also want to meet the manager who approved this campaign. I would have written a better script.— CHARLIE (@CharlieGulshan) June 8, 2023

Kuch bhi ad. Looks like an Ad for a dating app— Aditya Kondawar (@aditya_kondawar) June 8, 2023

The ad needs to be brought down immediately. @mcdonaldsindia.— Jaatster.eth | ???????? (@0xJaatster) June 8, 2023

McCreepy Advertising ????????

Can’t believe someone approved this idea and sucha campaign event got recorded and posted? What’s happening ????????????— Saloni Mittal (@whysaloni) June 7, 2023

Disgusting and against dignity of labour. Womenfolk who work in customer service roles already face such harassment— Dr. Divya Sharma (@divya_sharmaMD) June 8, 2023

What did you think of the ad campaign by McDonald’s India? Tell us in the comments.