McDonald's UK Voices Dismay In The Disinformation Regrading "Conflict In Middle East"
Following McDonald’s CEO Chris Kempczinski’s statement on the boycott call hurting business sentiment of the fast-food giant, the franchise’s UK outlet also released a statement voicing the dismay in the “disinformation and inaccurate reports regarding our position in response to the conflict in Middle East”. It said McDonald’s Corporation is not funding or supporting any governments that are involved the conflict. The statement said McDonald’s “abhor violence of any kind and firmly stand against hate speech, and we will always proudly open our doors to everyone”.
McDonald’s, the US based fast-food restaurant chain has been at the receiving end of backlashes and boycott calls, after its Israel franchise declared free meals for Israeli Defence Force, during the earlier days of the current war in Gaza. McDonald’s outlet in Arab nations faced massive boycott calls and dip in their business, following which Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Malaysia’s McDonalds has announced about offering 1 million to the humanitarian aid needed in Gaza.
Earlier, McDonald’s CEO, Chris Kempczinski said in a statement that “misinformation” about the company’s position in the ongoing bloody war between Israel and Hamas has hurt their business sentiments in the Middle East and in Muslim countries worldwide.
He said, “several markets in the Middle East and some outside the region are experiencing a meaningful business impact due to the war and associated misinformation that is affecting brands like McDonald’s”. The US based fast-food giant CEO said that he found the new development “disheartening and ill-founded”. He did not specify the extent of the financial loss the company has suffered as a result of the boycott calls.
Last month, McDonald’s Malaysia went to court suing the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement for hurting their business sentiments with “false and defamatory statement”, and said that the boycott calls has cost them $1.3 million. Days after the Israel-Hamas war started, McDonald’s in Lebanon was ransacked by the protesters.
