Gay-Positive French McDonald’s Ad Won’t Air in U.S.

[Shana A]

Gay-Positive French McDonald's Ad Won't Air in U.S.
by Kilian Melloy
Tuesday Jun 15, 2010

http://www.edgeboston.com/index.php?ch=news&sc=&sc2=news&sc3=&id=106944

A McDonald's ad showing a gay teenage boy and his father getting ready to eat lunch at one of the chain's restaurants tells patrons to "Venez comme vous etes," or, in plain English, "Come As You Are." But the ad won't be coming to America.

In a June 13 interview with the Chicago Tribune, McDonald's operations chief Don Thompson agreed that the ad had provoked controversy, and said that it would not be aired in the U.S. The controversy has been in the United States, however, and not in France, where the ad has played.

[MsFierce]

The US is so far behide. I don't see the big deal in that ad.

[V M]

I'm not a big fan of McD's, but I think it's messed up that the commercial won't be aired here in the US

[Arch]

I like the commercial and think American prudishness is silly.

Only one thing...too bad the kid isn't out to his father.

[glendagladwitch]

I think I'm getting a craving for some Micky D Freedom Fries.

[V M]

Oh yes... potato flavored greasy salt is so tempting and tantalizing especially when coupled with a dried out beef flavored salty air burger and a sugar fix soda... Heh, ya gotta gag it all down with something

[Miniar]

I liked that ad.. there's irony in it.
The kid's a good actor..

Oh yes... potato flavored greasy salt is so tempting and tantalizing especially when coupled with a dried out beef flavored salty air burger and a sugar fix soda... Heh, ya gotta gag it all down with something

Those things must be addictive cause I could So go for a McD's burger right now..

Too bad McD's has left Iceland...
Now we just have "metro"...
... hmm... should try 'em before I complain..

[justmeinoz]

In the Golden Tits, in France (and Italy), you can buy a small wine or beer with your Big Mac. Much more civilised.

Compared to the UK's Little Chef chain," Large Lardburger with lard fried chips, and a cup of sludge to takeaway", Macca's is not too bad!

[Apricot]

McD's isn't the best restaurant in town, and yeah there's a lot of them - but it isn't all that bad of a restaurant. The food [particularly their breakfast options] is actually pretty good if you're in a hurry. I've had worse from some local places around Raleigh.

As for the ads, if controversy was what they didn't want then I think they'll be hard pressed to avoid it either way. Only now, they have an interesting public relations battle to fight.

[Shana A]

Gay Group Cuts Ties With McDonald's Over Comments On French Ad

The Huffington Post 
Heeseung Kim
First Posted: 06-17-10 05:19 PM

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/06/17/mcdonalds-homophobic-comm_n_616458.html?ref=fb&src=sp#sb=632152,b=facebook

A couple weeks ago, McDonald's, France, released a gay-friendly commercial that encouraged patrons to "come as you are." The ad, which created a lot of buzz (mostly in America, where it wasn't -- and as we learn below, won't be -- aired), got a reception from McDonald's execs in America that was colder than day-old fries.

The Chicago Tribune recently interviewed Don Thompson, the Chief of Operations at McDonald's, and has him saying:

    "[A]t McDonald's, there are core values we stand for and the world is getting much closer. So we have a lot of conversations.

[Apricot]

What do I tell you.

[Arch]

I love the way Thompson goes on for several sentences without really saying anything or committing himself. Valuable skill, that.

[LordKAT]

I have yet to see or hear anything about the add that says gay. This is just nuts and I refuse to eat at Mcducks. Personal reasons.

[lightvi]

His latest interview sounded like he was just trying to appease bigots as not to lose their business

[tekla]

Most of the people in the US have a hard enough time speaking and understanding English.  Running an ad in French would not pay the bills.

[V M]

Running an ad in French would not pay the bills LOL

I'm sure it would be rather simple to do an English voice over...

But then they'd have to do one in Spanish and maybe a few other languages 

[tekla]

Voice overs almost always look like voice overs.  Add to that the problems with actor's unions, contracts, residual payments and it's just easier to re-shoot it here with people who don't look, well, quite so French. 

[tekla]

When you're trying to sell something you put people in the ads who resonate with the people your trying to sell to. That does not mean 'are like the people you are trying to sell to' either.  You are selling them their dreams, not their reality.

[tekla]

Or smelling that bad, either way.

[Laura91]

No way! The French are way hotter than Americans.

and the Japanese are way hotter than the French.