Gay Group Cuts Ties With McDonald's Over Comments On French Ad

[romantico]

Posted: 6/18/10 at 12:48am

A couple weeks ago, McDonald's, France, released a gay-friendly commercial that encouraged patrons to "come as you are." The ad, which created a lot of buzz (mostly in America, where it wasn't -- and as we learn below, won't be -- aired), got a reception from McDonald's execs in America that was colder than day-old fries.

The Chicago Tribune recently interviewed Don Thompson, the Chief of Operations at McDonald's, and has him saying:

"[A]t McDonald's, there are core values we stand for and the world is getting much closer. So we have a lot of conversations. We're going to make some mistakes at times. (We talk) about things that may have an implication in one part of the world and may be the cultural norm in another part of the world. And those are things that, yes, we're going to learn from. But, you're right, that commercial won't show in the United States."

In response to Thompson's comments, the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce -- the largest GLBT business group in the country with 1.4 million businesses -- has severed their relationship with McDonald's, writing in a letter:

We strongly believe that McDonald's plan to distance itself from LGBT and other diverse business segments, coupled with the release of the French TV ad, is ill advised and counter to the spirit of good business and sound ethics. We sincerely hope that McDonald's will reconsider its position and that the company will again show its support for LGBT people, our families and our businesses -- not just where it is politically expedient, but around the globe.


Barring a significant change in policy on the part of McDonald's, please consider this letter as official notice that the NGLCC will not accept future support or membership by McDonald's or any of its subsidiaries. Additionally, please note that we will answer any questions about this communication, the past relationship between our organizations or any other questions by members of the NGLCC, the media or other interested parties with nothing less than factual and accurate information based on our communications and experiences with McDonald's and its representatives.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/06/17/mcdonalds-homophobic-comm_n_616458.html

[strummergirl]

Posted: 6/18/10 at 12:51am

I had no idea what core values Mickey D's had except enlarging people's cores.

Of course an ad like that probably won't get much play in **some** parts of the country but it is incredibly cynical of this Thompson guy to generalize this country's reaction to certain advertising.

[uncageg]

Posted: 6/18/10 at 1:07am

He could have said that McDonalds values their LGBT customers. I can kind of see where he is coming from. It is a good possibility that if the commercial were to run in the US, or a US version of it, the press and EXTRA! will get a hold of it and ask viewers to e-mail, tweet or go on their website to comment on whether you think the ad should be run and maybe McDonalds just doesn't want that.

I wonder if there is any controversy over it in France?

[tazber]

Posted: 6/18/10 at 6:26am

"I wonder if there is any controversy over it in France? "

Me too. Very curious to know how much backlash there was.

[JerseyGirl2]

Posted: 6/18/10 at 6:41am

I can't comment on France, but I have been living in Sweden for a month and there are a few things that have just blown my mind. In the US, I am used to people wrongly assuming my fiancée and I are friends and when they find out otherwise, there is that look of, "Oh... OH!" and then a head shake to get rid of confusion. Here, I have had to apply for my personnummer (like an SS number), credit cards and banking information. We have applied to share accounts. When someone assumes while looking at the paperwork that one of us is going to be male, says something about it and then discovers otherwise, there isn't a look of shock. There is an instant look of apology. People are sorry to have been so rude as to assume we were straight. People are almost supportive to a fault. I would bet France is similar. They are probably super supportive of the commercial just to have another reason to hate Americans. lol

Of course, I knew that the attitude toward us as a couple would be different here, but I wasn't prepared for how much different. I still can't wrap my head around how so many parts of the US can be so backward in their thinking. Hell, if my parents can come around EVERYone should be able to.

[StockardFan]

Posted: 6/18/10 at 7:11am

jg2, I didn't know you were already over there. How is it going? Do you love it?