McDonald's Removes AI Generated Christmas Advertisement After Online Criticism
McDonald's removed an artificial intelligence-generated Christmas advertisement in the Netherlands on December 10 after criticism on social media. According to Yahoo Finance, the 45-second commercial titled "the most terrible time of the year" showed Santa in traffic and a cyclist falling in snow. The message encouraged customers to visit McDonald's restaurants until January to avoid holiday stress.
Social media users criticized the advertisement immediately after its release. "This commercial single-handedly ruined my Christmas spirit," one user posted. McDonald's Netherlands told AFP the advertisement aimed to show stressful holiday moments. The company noted that social comments and international media coverage showed many guests view this period as "the most wonderful time of the year."
Growing Concerns About AI in Advertising
The McDonald's withdrawal reflects broader consumer resistance to artificial intelligence in marketing campaigns. Newsweek reported in October 2025 that 43 percent of U.S. adults believe AI will harm them more than help them. Public skepticism has turned into open hostility toward AI-generated products and advertisements. Campaigns made with generative AI face mockery online and vandalism in public spaces.
Multiple brands experienced similar backlash in 2025. Skechers faced criticism for an AI-generated campaign showing distorted imagery. Critics dismissed the content as lazy and unprofessional. The shift represents growing awareness among consumers about the replacement of human labor with automated systems. Research shows people consistently rate works labeled as "human created" as more beautiful and meaningful than identical AI-generated content.
Industry Impact and Market Response
The advertising industry remains divided on artificial intelligence strategies for major campaigns. Coca-Cola faced intense criticism in November 2025 for its second consecutive AI-generated Christmas advertisement. Euronews reported the campaign drew terms like "soulless" and "creepy" across social platforms. The company defended its decision as a forward-looking experiment despite widespread negative reactions.
Some brands now promote their work as "human-made" in response to consumer sentiment. The Conversation noted in November 2025 that Heineken, Polaroid, and Cadbury celebrate their creative work as human-made in recent campaigns. These advertising campaigns signal a cultural moment where consumers question creativity when machines produce content. Research revealed that 90 percent of digital ad buyers plan to use or currently use generative AI for video advertisements.
The McDonald's case demonstrates tensions between efficiency and emotional connection in holiday advertising. Production companies like The Sweetshop defended their AI work by claiming extensive labor hours went into the project. However, critics argue that replacing traditional shoots eliminates employment opportunities for actors, crew members, and creative professionals. Marketing budgets have tightened in 2025, with some brands cutting shoot budgets by half compared to previous years. This economic pressure makes AI-generated content attractive despite consumer resistance.
Further Reading
For deeper insights into global adoption trends and regulatory frameworks surrounding alternative financial and digital systems, our Alternative Financial Systems Index tracks developments across 50 countries. The index provides data on how different nations approach emerging technologies in commerce and finance.
