A McDonald’s Holiday Ad Is Creeping People Out
A Mcdonald's restaurant is seen in Philadelphia on June 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
McDonald’s latest holiday advertisement, created for its Netherlands market, attempted to poke fun at the stresses of Christmas—but it quickly drew criticism and was ultimately pulled. The 45-second spot relied on artificial intelligence to illustrate a chaotic “most terrible time of the year,” showing fast-moving scenes of falling Christmas trees, burnt cookies, and kitchen mishaps, according to Quartz.
Viewers immediately noticed the telltale signs of AI video: rapid cuts, odd physics, and stiff human expressions. Reactions focused both on the ad’s execution and its messaging. One YouTube commenter summed up the sentiment: “Ditch your family and hide in McDonald’s because Christmas sucks?” Others called the ad “creepy” and “poorly edited,” while an Instagram user wrote, “No actors, no camera team … welcome to the future of filmmaking. And it sucks.” McDonald’s first disabled comments on YouTube, then removed the video entirely, though it can still be found on ad archive sites.
In a statement shared with the BBC, McDonald’s Netherlands said the ad was meant to “reflect the stressful moments that can occur during the holidays” but admitted, “This moment serves as … an important learning as we explore the effective use of AI.” Melanie Bridge, CEO of the production company Sweetshop, defended the project on Instagram, emphasizing the effort involved: “Ten people, five weeks, full-time. Blood, sweat, tears, and an honestly ridiculous amount of coaxing to get the models to behave and to honor the creative brief shot by shot.” The agency behind the concept, TBWA\Neboko, said it aimed to “challenge the conventions of holiday advertising,” starting with a twist on the classic song It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year, Quartz reported.
The ad’s rocky reception adds to a growing list of AI-driven misfires in big-brand marketing. Just weeks ago, Coca-Cola faced ridicule for an AI-generated holiday spot featuring odd-looking polar bears, sloths, and other woodland creatures in the snow. Despite such setbacks, advertisers continue exploring AI as a faster and cheaper alternative to traditional shoots.
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