Customer wooing woman staff: McDonald's India's latest ad faces backlash
Netizens trolled the ad, arguing that it objectifies McDonald's female employees and encourages men to harass them
McDonald’s India is facing backlash over its recent campaign that shows a love story between a woman staff and a customer. Netizens think the film will send the wrong message to the audiences, as the fast food brand is seeminfly objectifying their female employees and encouraging men to prey on them.
The TVC starts with a customer standing at the counter to pay for a meal when he and a female cashier exchange glances. Sparks seemingly fly between the two and the man lingers around to buy another meal. The film ends with a tagline - "Date... sort of @ ₹179."
The internet is convinced that the ad is not only in bad taste but also puts McDonald's female employees in a vulnerable spot.
A comment under the YouTube film said, "Wth, I mean it's cute. But there exist many despo people who will take it as a new way to find girls. It would be a shame if the women who work there for their livelihood have to deal with stalkers. They smile not only at you but at everyone cause it is their job. But this ad can be taken in a different way which will be bad. If working women are to be disturbed now, how will they do their job now."
The comment section under the Instagram post is filled with people reacting to the video -
View this post on Instagram
This is outrageous and disgusting beyond words
— akshay sethi (@akshay_sethii) June 7, 2023
1. You are inviting your customers to hit on your employees
2. Creating potentially unsafe workplace for your female employees
3. Objectifying your female staff for profit by suggesting your customers can flirt and find a date here
This will, of course, lead to your team members getting harassed. May want to think this campaign through a bit.
— Rob P (@MrRobzilla) June 9, 2023
Oh this was a terrible terrible idea
— Lixxz (@Shmlixxz) June 9, 2023
The ad comes close on the heels of food delivery platform Zomato's "casteist" ad that had to be taken down following furore. The restaurant aggregator on Thursday withdrew its 'Kachra' ad campaign after it received severe backlash on the internet. Restaurant aggregator Zomato on Thursday withdrew its 'Kachra' ad campaign after it received severe backlash on the internet.
