McDonald’s Takes Down AI Ad Due to Backlash

McDonald’s has quietly taken down its new AI-generated Christmas ad after it stirred a wave of online backlash. The spot — created for McDonald’s Netherlands by TBWA\NEBOKO and produced by The Sweetshop — used a fast, chaotic montage of AI-generated holiday moments. As reactions spread across social media, McDonald’s turned off YouTube comments and eventually set the video to private.

What’s interesting is that this isn’t happening in isolation. Coca-Cola and Toys“R”Us both faced similar criticism earlier this year for their AI-driven holiday campaigns. Across all three cases, viewers pointed to the same themes: strange visuals, an uncanny tone, and questions around how AI fits into emotional, seasonal storytelling.

The Sweetshop later released a statement explaining that the ad wasn’t “AI-made” but crafted through weeks of human work layered with AI tools—highlighting how complex these productions actually are.

It’s clearly a moment where brands, agencies, and audiences are all trying to figure out what AI in advertising should look like.

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