McDonald’s Facing Controversy After Christmas Commercial

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00:00McDonald's Facing Controversy After Christmas Commercial

00:03McDonald's is making headlines this holiday season, not for its burgers or festive menu items,

00:09but for a Christmas commercial, created entirely with artificial intelligence.

00:14Released on December 6th, the ad has quickly sparked debate online.

00:18Some viewers see it as clever and innovative, while others argue it feels lazy, unsettling,

00:23or a sign of where the industry is heading.

00:25The commercial was produced by TBWA in partnership with international AI production company The Sweet Shop.

00:32Despite the futuristic look, The Sweet Shop's CEO, Melanie Bridge,

00:37emphasized that humans still drove the project creatively.

00:41AI didn't make McDonald's Christmas ad. We did, she explained.

00:45Human directors, writers, and editors led the process, with AI simply used as a cost-effective tool.

00:51Bridge noted that a full live-action version would have been far more expensive to produce.

00:57Public reaction, however, has been mixed.

01:00Some viewers worry that AI-assisted advertising means fewer jobs for actors, animators, and production crews,

01:07especially during a season when many rely on extra work.

01:11Others took a more humorous approach, joking that if AI is replacing Hollywood,

01:16maybe some actors will finally stop lecturing audiences.

01:19The ad's tone also drew criticism.

01:22Social media users described it as odd, emotionally weird,

01:26and lacking the warmth typically associated with holiday commercials.

01:30Comments like, please make the cookie talk, and please make Grammy way less creepy,

01:35highlight how some elements didn't land as intended.

01:38TBWA's chief creative officer, Dara Van Dyke,

01:41said the team purposely moved away from the traditional feel-good formula.

01:45The ad reimagines a classic Christmas song into the most terrible time of the year,

01:50reflecting the stress many people feel in December.

01:53Research from MediaTest shows two-thirds of Dutch consumers want more personal time during the holidays,

01:59a finding that shaped McDonald's message that December could use a little McDonald's.

02:04Despite the controversy, many viewers admitted one thing remains true,

02:08McDonald's fries still hit the spot.

02:10And whether people love or hate the commercial, AI-driven ads are likely here to stay,

02:15including during Christmas.