A McDonald's Christmas season ad made using artificial intelligence (AI) has been pulled. A torrent of criticism poured in, saying it "ruined the Christmas mood" and was "offensive."
On the 11th (local time), the U.K. daily the Guardian and others said McDonald's in the Netherlands posted a 45-second ad titled "the most horrible time of the year" on YouTube on the 6th, then set it to private.
On social media (SNS), harsh reviews such as "It's creepy," "It's cynical and not funny," "The idea itself is terrible," and "No one wants a negative vibe at Christmas" poured in.
The ad showed Santa stuck in traffic, a bicycle loaded with gifts slipping on a snowy road, sheet music flying away from people singing carols, and a man falling while skating.
The ad then ended with a message urging viewers to "take refuge at McDonald's until January next year" to avoid the year-end "chaos." It was a comedy-style spot, but it did not land with viewers.
The company said, "This ad was produced to show stressful situations experienced during the holidays in the Netherlands," adding, "We have come to realize this season is 'the happiest time of the year.'"