McDonald’s Commercial Out of Line?
McDonald’s new commercial has the adoption community up in arms (or should I say up to their ears in nugget batter?) because the commercial puts a negative spin on adoption. Adoptive parents all over forums and email rings are stating that they will boycott McDonald’s because they don’t want to associate with a company that does not value adoptive families or portray adoption in a positive light.
Is it going too far?
The basis of the commercial is that there is a new product on McDonald’s Dollar Menu, the 6 Piece Chicken Nugget. During a conversation with French Fries, the Parfait, and the Chicken Sandwich it comes out that French Fries is perhaps, adopted. (Read the script here) The negative part about this is that French Fries is shocked and that there is a long, dramatic pause that denotes negative feelings.
As an adoptive parent, I don’t want my son seeing this commercial because I don’t want him “feeling” that adoption is bad. I grew up hearing things like “you were adopted” and knew it was an insult; we all want to belong to our parents and our families. We have worked hard for our son to know that he is wanted and that adoption is a good thing. But, I am also not going to make a big deal out of it and boycott, turn the TV off, or lecture him about adoption when the commercial comes on.
What do you think? Is it just something funny and are we being too touchy?
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Hmmm…
I am biased because I have never dealt with adoption first hand. It seems like an innocent mistake on Mc Donald’s part. Perhaps an apology would be in order. But boycotting? That seems a tad extreme. Then again, if they put a negative spin on people who had a lot of children, I might be livid.
I’m already disgusted by BK’s, “Morning Tongue” commericial. It seems they(fast food) are only doing negative or controversial commericials lately to get more people in there.
You’re right…it could just be an innocent mistake by marketing execs. Sometimes they don’t think about the effect they have on the overall public. Remember the scene in Santa Clause when Tim Allen speaks up about the Santa Clause tank?
But, are they putting controversial ads out there to get people talking? The “morning Tongue” and now this one gets me thinking…
My kids are 7 and 6, and have never eaten at McDonalds – we’re vegetarians, and I just hate McDonald’s on general principles. Plus their food is terrible. This commercial does nothing to change my opinion of them. It is rude and insensitive, and they should be called on it.
Ok, since I don’t live there… what does the commercial do?
Also, shouldn’t the PR agency be boycotted as well?
“But, I am also not going to make a big deal out of it and boycott, turn the TV off, or lecture him about adoption when the commercial comes on.
What do you think? Is it just something funny and are we being too touchy?”
I thought the commercial was… a commercial. I took a satirical approach to it in my blog…
http://www.krississippi.com/?p=460
I don’t think [the commercial] is negative or positive, it’s just something that some who do happen to be touchy (IMHO) might be offended by.
I viewed the commercial over on Kris’s site and I think it’s innocuous. The characters are talking about how they do not look alike and adoption would explain that. It’s not used in the sense of “You do not belong.” So I’ll have the #1 Value Meal please.