McDonald’s Pulls AI Christmas Commercial After Viewers Claim It Ruined Their Holiday Spirit

A recent holiday advertising campaign by McDonald’s Netherlands has been abruptly removed from the internet following a wave of negative feedback. The commercial, titled “The Most Terrible Time of the Year,” was created entirely using artificial intelligence and was intended to poke fun at the stressful nature of the holiday season.

The video featured a series of chaotic scenes, including Santa Claus stuck in traffic, a cyclist crashing with a pile of gifts, and Christmas trees catching fire. The underlying message suggested that customers should escape the festive madness and hide out at McDonald’s until January arrives.

However, the attempt at humor failed to land with many viewers, who quickly took to social media to express their distaste. Critics described the visuals as “creepy” and “soulless,” with one particularly viral comment stating that the ad “single-handedly ruined my Christmas spirit.”

Beyond the tone of the advertisement, much of the backlash focused on the use of generative AI technology itself. Many consumers expressed disappointment that a multi-billion dollar corporation chose to use software instead of hiring human actors, animators, and creative professionals.

The production company behind the spot, Sweetshop, attempted to defend the project by claiming it required seven weeks of intensive work and was not merely a quick AI trick. They released a statement asserting that “AI didn’t make this film, we did,” but this defense only seemed to fuel further mockery online.

This incident marks another flashpoint in the growing debate over the role of artificial intelligence in creative industries. It follows a similar controversy involving Coca-Cola, which also faced criticism this year for releasing an AI-generated remake of its classic “Holidays Are Coming” commercial.

In response to the overwhelming negativity, McDonald’s Netherlands initially disabled comments on the video before ultimately deciding to pull the ad from its social media channels. The company acknowledged that while they intended to show the relatable stress of the holidays, they missed the mark for those who view Christmas as a magical time.

We want to hear your take on whether brands should be using AI for their holiday marketing campaigns in the comments.