The Wall Street Journal reports that McDonald’s new celebrity-sponsored meals, “which have generated strong sales for the chain, are drawing criticism from franchisees who say some of the artists don’t reflect the company’s values.”
For example, “Some owners said a number of McDonald’s locations have declined to promote the current Cardi B and Offset meal, because of concerns about being associated with the artists.
“In messages sent to the U.S. division in recent weeks, several McDonald’s franchisees said that the artists’ lyrics and lifestyles aren’t aligned with the company’s brand. Some owners wrote that the chosen celebrities could erode McDonald’s family-friendly image, and urged other franchisees to remove advertising and merchandise associated with the Cardi B and Offset meal in their stores.”
The Journal notes that it is unclear how many of McDonald’s US franchisees have objected. “McDonald’s said Tuesday that the chain has received widespread support and excitement from owners and their restaurant employees regarding the Cardi B and Offset meal. The company said the couple’s promotion was meant to focus on love and celebrating special moments.”
And, most important, the celebrity-endorsed meals apparently are driving sales increases … and so some franchisees are having to pass on big fat checks and big large bills, simply because things are a little bit too complicated.
KC’s View:
It is a big and polarized country, and it is no surprise that some celebrities are going to be anathema to some people. This is the world in which we live.
To be honest, there are some of us who are going to have no idea. I knew that Cardi B was a rapper, but I didn’t know that some of her songs had “objectionable lyrics” until I read it in the Journal. I also didn’t know – and I know I’m going to get grief for this – what an Offset was. A band? A person? (I had to Google the name to find out.)
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