{"id":30182,"date":"2025-12-17T11:49:24","date_gmt":"2025-12-17T16:49:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/news\/?p=30182"},"modified":"2025-12-17T11:49:24","modified_gmt":"2025-12-17T16:49:24","slug":"mcdonalds-pulls-creepy-ai-christmas-ad-after-social-media-backlash","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/news\/2025\/12\/mcdonalds-pulls-creepy-ai-christmas-ad-after-social-media-backlash","title":{"rendered":"McDonald’s Pulls ‘Creepy’ AI Christmas Ad After Social Media Backlash"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Kyle Balmer \/ Youtube<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

McDonald\u2019s thought it was trying something new for the holidays. Instead, it ended up pulling a Christmas commercial after viewers across social media called it unsettling, depressing, and downright \u201ccreepy.\u201d<\/p>\n

The 45-second ad, which debuted Saturday on McDonald\u2019s Netherlands YouTube channel, was created using artificial intelligence. It was set to the familiar Christmas tune \u201cIt\u2019s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year,\u201d but with altered lyrics that renamed it \u201cthe most terrible time of the year.\u201d Rather than warm holiday scenes, the ad leaned into chaos and discomfort \u2014 including a Christmas tree exploding inside a living room and Santa Claus triggering a traffic jam.<\/p>\n

Viewers did not respond kindly. McDonald\u2019s first disabled comments on the video and later made it private just days after its release. Shortly after, the fast-food chain confirmed to Fox News Digital that the ad had been pulled.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe commercial was produced for McDonald\u2019s Netherlands, but we have decided to remove our AI-generated Christmas advert,\u201d a company spokesperson said. \u201cIt was intended to reflect the stressful moments that can occur during the holidays in the Netherlands, but we recognize that, for many of our guests, the season is \u2018the most wonderful time of the year.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

The spokesperson added, \u201cWe respect that and remain committed to creating experiences that offer good times and good food for everyone. This moment serves as an important learning as we explore the effective use of AI.\u201d<\/p>\n

Even though the video was removed from McDonald\u2019s official YouTube channel, clips of the ad quickly spread across social media, where criticism poured in. Film critic Richard Roeper summed up his reaction bluntly, writing, \u201cIf they were going for creepy, depressing, deeply unfunny, clumsily shot, poorly edited, and inauthentic \u2014 nailed it!\u201d<\/p>\n

Others took aim at the broader use of AI in creative work. The Blaze contributor Daniel Horowitz commented, \u201cAI slop is worse than the black death…a digital plague. At least the bubonic plague wasn’t supported by my taxes or taking anyone’s job.\u201d<\/p>\n

Conservative commentator Matt Walsh was even harsher, writing, \u201cIt sucks. It’s awful. There’s no artistry. No wit. No charm. No warmth. No humanity. You can tell it’s AI from a million miles away. I hate it. You should hate it. We should relentlessly mock and deride and bully anyone or any company that uses AI like this.\u201d<\/p>\n

Actor Jon Cartwright also chimed in, saying, \u201cEven ignoring all the slop this ad is so cynical and unfun.\u201d<\/p>\n

The ad was created by advertising agency TBWA and production company The Sweetshop, which initially defended the project. In a since-deleted comment cited by the New York Post, The Sweetshop CEO Melanie Bridge said, \u201cThe hours that went into this job far exceeded a traditional shoot. 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

McDonald\u2019s isn\u2019t alone in facing backlash over AI holiday advertising. Coca-Cola encountered similar criticism in 2024 after releasing an AI-constructed Christmas ad as part of its \u201cHolidays are Coming\u201d campaign.<\/p>\n

As brands continue to experiment with artificial intelligence, this holiday season is proving that audiences still crave warmth, authenticity, and humanity \u2014 especially at Christmas.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

McDonald\u2019s thought it was trying something new for the holidays. Instead, it ended up pulling a Christmas commercial after viewers across social media called it unsettling, depressing, and downright \u201ccreepy.\u201d The 45-second ad, which debuted Saturday on McDonald\u2019s Netherlands YouTube channel, was created using artificial intelligence. It was set to the familiar Christmas tune \u201cIt\u2019s…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":462,"featured_media":30185,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fbia_status":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-30182","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\nMcDonald's Pulls 'Creepy' AI Christmas Ad After Social Media Backlash<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Titled \u201cthe most terrible time of the year,\u201d the 45-second ad featured a series of mishaps befalling people at Christmas.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/news\/2025\/12\/mcdonalds-pulls-creepy-ai-christmas-ad-after-social-media-backlash\" \/>\n<meta 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