Controversial McDonald's Ad from France

[carolinakid]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9xGRii6I ... ture=email

As a gay man, I personally love this! Bravo McDonald's! (even if I rarely patronize you) Would this ad ever fly in the USA?
Please share your thoughts....

[singerguy04]

Bill O'Rielly hates the commercial

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEIE4isB ... r_embedded

what an a-hole!

[nachonaco]

I like it because it's just subtle enough.

Hope to see an American version.

[PixarFan2006]

I really do not see how this is controversial despite the hint of the boy being gay.

[PatrickvD]

what's disturbing about it is that McDonald's is now specifically targeting gays and trying to get them fat as well.

other than that, perfectly fine commercial if you'd ask me. Bill O'reily is a moron but what else is new.

[slave2moonlight]

I just don't get what this has to do with Big Macs? Ha.

[jpanimation]

Bill O'Rielly hates the commercial

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEIE4isB ... r_embedded

what an a-hole!

I think his problem with the commercial, and mine, is it has nothing to do with McDonalds or their food. I guess most commercials now-a-days are actually confusing as to what they're selling you. Anyways, I like it. Nice and subtle and finally doesn't show a stereotype. Just not sure why McDonalds is marketing social acceptance instead of their food?

[pap64]

I just don't get what this has to do with Big Macs? Ha.

I guess the message is that regardless who you are, you deserve to eat junk food .

But all kidding aside, I was expecting something out there and outrageous. I really liked that it was very subtle and doesn't hit you on the head with the blunt end of the message.

[Lazario]

what's disturbing about it is that McDonald's is now specifically targeting gays and trying to get them fat as well.

other than that, perfectly fine commercial if you'd ask me. Bill O'reily is a moron but what else is new.

A++ reply, Patrick.

No one else slammed both O'Reilly and McDonalds in the same post. The most sickening thing about O'Reilly's "commentary" (the guy's just always on hate-autopilot) is that he expresses concern that the ad will hurt McDonalds' business. Can anyone else come up with at least 3 major flaws in that viewpoint?

I like it. Nice and subtle and finally doesn't show a stereotype. Just not sure why McDonalds is marketing social acceptance instead of their food?

It must be something subliminal. As in: in the back of your mind, you'll remember that someone associated with McDonalds tried to be progressive and then make the link between that good sentiment and buying their product. Although the masterminds behind this could probably care less if it promotes tolerance or even inspired backlash. In France. If something like this is just making news now, it must be the first of its kind. So they're most likely experimenting with a new marketing strategy.

[PatrickvD]

what's disturbing about it is that McDonald's is now specifically targeting gays and trying to get them fat as well.

other than that, perfectly fine commercial if you'd ask me. Bill O'reily is a moron but what else is new.

A++ reply, Patrick.

thanks

And I agree about O'reilly's comments. He's a first class idiot. I was particularly disturbed by his 'cameo' in Iron Man 2. Disney made sure that, with them owning Marvel, they'd cram in multiple Disney references (most notably, Tony's father representing Walt himself). But how in the heck did they allow that walking, talking extremist into their film?

it wasn't even funny.

[carolinakid]

My 2 cents...

I don't think the dad is unaccepting.
I think the son just hasn't told him yet.
The little eye roll the son gives him at the end made me think the son feels his dad is hopelessly clueless, but not unaccepting or unloving.
I got the sense that "come as you are" (venez comme vous etes) was an indication that this was where and when the son chose to tell his dad that he's gay....

I WANT A PART TWO!!!!!!

[Flanger-Hanger]

The ad could have just featured gay friends enjoying themselves and eating Big Macs if its goal was to show that gay people can enjoy McDonalds too, but considering the month of the year this is perhaps McDonalds wants to position themselves as progressive, as Laz said, and supportive of Pride month itself (if June is counted as Pride month in France as it is here in Canada/US) to better their image, like having their own children's charity.

Personally I think a group of gay friends enjoying themselves sounds better than a complicated plot about a closeted boy with a slogan coming in awkwardly at the end. After all, McDs is a fast food restaurant and not a community center where you can schedule a meeting to discuss one's personal problems.

But they should be recognized for their support of us gays, even if this ad would never run in the states for obvious reasons.

[Flanger-Hanger]

My 2 cents...

I don't think the dad is unaccepting.
I think the son just hasn't told him yet.
The little eye roll the son gives him at the end made me think the son feels his dad is hopelessly clueless, but not unaccepting or unloving.
I got the sense that "come as you are" (venez comme vous etes) was an indication that this was where and when the son chose to tell his dad that he's gay....

I WANT A PART TWO!!!!!!

Never thought of a part 2! Perhaps this will be some epic McDonald's produced gay serial full of suspenseful cliffhangers?!

[ajmrowland]

This would never fly in the US. some people are too vocal to let it do so.

1. a lot more people in America-Im assuming-are anti-gay than Europe. Europeans seem to always be a bit more progressive than us.

2. If they show THIS particular commercial, and not an English one, it wont be aired in Arizona

3. people dont wanna read when they watch tv.

4. It doesnt have Ronald. Seriously, kids are more familiar with him than they are with Jesus.

5. It's an adult commercial, but will still get complaints from parents about their kids' minds are being poisoned.

[Goliath]

McDonalds should be controversial because the toys in their happy meals are produced by 8 year old children in Vietnamese sweatshops; not because of a tame, average commercial.

[Disney Duster]

Lots of ads these days are more clever or interesting or entertaining than seeming to sell you something. I think it's the new way of making commercials great so people will watch them and, along with being entertained, also want to buy something.

This is just like all the other commercials that don't seem to have much in common with the product or seem to sell it. But now gay people will be a little happier going to McDonald's.

And of course in making something clever and subtle, and kind of romantic, the French succeeded far.

Yes, I liked the commercial but the father does bother me a bit.

[Isidour]

I don't understand what's the whole deal about it, just as its say the commercial:

Just as you are...

even if you're a homophobic

[milojthatch]

Well, it looks like government officials here in the States were worried about American obesity, and how to get Americans to stop eating at McDonald's so much. Looks like McDonald's may have just answered the problem themselves.

[Scarred4life]

If they didn't flash the McDonald's logo at the end, no one would know what the hell that commercial was advertising.

I see no problem with it, other than the fact that it has nothing to do with food. Apparently, McDonalds is the place to be to come out of the closet.

[The_Iceflash]

I've seen O'Reilly make very good points on different things. There are obviously things he says that I disagree with as well but I agree and disagree with things everyone says. I'm not going to agree with someone 100% of the time. I'm shocked by attitudes toward different opinions. When someone doesn't agree with an opinion of his, instead of saying "Fine. that's his opinion. I don't agree but whatev'. " we get "he's an idiot, a-hole, etc". Is that how you react to someone who shares a different opinion than you? Would you want someone reacting to you that way?

Naturally everyone comes from different political, religious, and cultural backgrounds and all have their own beliefs and opinions. To degrade, trash, and slander someone who happens to have some different beliefs and opinions than you is wrong. Who is any one of us to say our belief system is right and someone else's is wrong just because we disagree with it?

I think his problem with the commercial, and mine, is it has nothing to do with McDonalds or their food.

I agree with you and him on that matter. I don't care who they put in a commercial or who they try to target but I don't see the point of a McDonald's commercial is it doesn't even mention the food. (I meant that last sentence rhetorically not literally).