Viewers weren’t impressed.
McDonald’s has pulled its Christmas advertisement, reportedly produced entirely with artificial intelligence, following significant backlash from unhappy customers.
The 45-second ad, launched on McDonald’s Holland’s YouTube channel on December 6, faced criticism and was removed just three days later, on December 9.
One viewer remarked, “McDonald’s has released what has to be the worst ad I’ve seen this year,” sharing their thoughts on X.
The commercial features a twist on the classic “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” suggesting the holiday season is instead “the scariest time of the year.”
In the ad, AI-generated characters encounter various mishaps—like a chaotic family dinner and burnt cookies—culminating in the suggestion to “please hide in McDonald’s until January arrives.”
Amidst the uproar, McDonald’s initially disabled comments on the YouTube video before ultimately deleting it altogether.
According to McDonald’s Netherlands, the intention behind the video was to “reflect on stressful moments during the holidays.” They acknowledged that it turned out to be an “important learning” experience regarding the “effective use of AI.”
Even though the video is no longer available on the official channel, numerous negative reactions have circulated on social media, criticizing both the ad’s pessimistic tone and its AI origins.
One user joked, “If we were aiming for something creepy, depressing, totally unfunny, poorly shot, poorly edited and inauthentic, we nailed it!” on X.
Another noted, “It’s disgusting… You can tell it’s AI from a million miles away. I hate it. Companies using AI this way should be mocked.”
Someone else commented, “Advertising should connect brands with people who have money. If a brand creates boring ads, it just makes the relationship worse.”
In a tongue-in-cheek manner, another remarked, “Let’s hope the AI customers eat as many burgers as the real ones.” One pointed out, “Very fitting for a store selling fake food to make fake advertising.”
The Gardening.club, the AI branch of The Sweetshop—the studio behind the ad—defended their work, stating it took “seven weeks” and extensive human effort to create, surpassing typical production timelines.
Melanie Bridge, the CEO of The Sweetshop, emphasized that the project required more human resources than a conventional shoot, with ten people dedicating full-time work for five weeks.
However, their justifications were also criticized. One individual questioned, “Isn’t that the same as actually shooting it with post effects?”
Another added, “Long story short—it’s been bad overall,” indicating discontent with the ad’s effectiveness.
Comments highlighted the irony in expending significant resources on a poorly received outcome. A user expressed, “You’re admitting to spending more time and effort than traditional methods for a result that consumers hate so much they can’t use your ‘work’ anymore.”
McDonald’s isn’t alone in facing backlash for AI-generated content. Coca-Cola’s holiday campaign featuring AI-created commercials also received immediate criticism, while the Italian fashion house Valentino was condemned for an ad deemed “cheap” and “tacky.”
