Gay McDonalds ad in France
Published: 06/01/2010 by Steve Williams
McDonald's Says 'Come As You Are' with Gay Friendly French Ad
With the slogan "come as you are", a surprisingly sweet and enigmatic ad recently released by McDonald's in France depicts a gay teenager speaking to his boyfriend on the phone while he waits for his dad to return to the table. What is more, this is perhaps a preamble for the closeted young man coming out to his father about his sexuality.
This is one in a long line of so-called lifestyle advertisements looking at different segments of society and trying to show that McDonald's, as a brand, welcomes them all.
One other McDonald's ad in this series that caught my attention was one of two mature customers potentially finding romance with one another over the restaurant's Wi-Fi network.
It's an interesting strategy by McDonald's who have pushed to take the emphasis off their food (unsurprising given the health worries surrounding fast food) and to instead promote its corporate identity as an inclusive and modern brand.
From a gay rights perspective the ad is noteworthy in that it does not exploit any kind of shock value but rather takes a more subtle approach to offer its message. This is perhaps indicative of France's more laissez-faire attitude toward sexuality as a whole, but what are the chances of a similarly gay friendly advertisement being shown in the US?
FOR THE COMPLETE STORY PLEASE CLICK ON HYPERLINK ABOVE
Photo Gallery
