McDonald’s remains one of the largest global brands still facing a boycott, and for the past two years, people have remained consistent in their efforts to show solidarity with the people of Palestine. Many celebrities have since distanced themselves from and cut ties with the fast-food chains, but some have remained ignorant of the cause, whether wilfully or unintentionally.
Regardless, fans have been calling out these public figures for their collaborations with McDonald’s, expressing disappointment and accusing them of supporting genocide. UNIQ member WOODZ (조승연) is the latest K-pop idol to be “cancelled” after his recent advertisement with the franchise was released. Here’s the story:
Over the long weekend, McDonald’s Korea released their latest advertisement announcing the return of the Double Big Mac, featuring Korean artist WOODZ. In the clip, the singer is seen backstage enjoying the limited-time item before walking away while singing the brand’s iconic jingle. The comments section on Instagram was mostly positive, with Korean netizens praising the idol’s visuals and vocals.
Those on Twitter, on the other hand, were less forgiving. Many criticised the star for collaborating with a boycotted brand, saying he has no excuse for not being aware of the movement, which has been ongoing for two years. Others expressed disappointment that WOODZ, along with NCT’s Mark, would still choose to be associated with McDonald’s despite the boycott. Some accused the idol of hypocrisy, noting that his music often addresses discrimination, liberation and the fight against injustice, only for him to be seen as part of the problem.
At the time of writing, neither WOODZ nor his agency, EDAM Entertainment, have issued an official statement addressing the backlash. What was your reaction when you found out about the collaboration?
Watch the advertisement below:
