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Monday, January 15, 2018

Canada Radio: McDonald's Pulls 'Museum' Commercial

McDonald’s in Canada has apologized and pulled a national 15-second radio advertisement from the air after facing harsh criticism that it belittled museums.

In the since-pulled ad, a male narrator begins saying, “You could get a museum tour for $5,” CBC reports. A woman playing a museum guide then cuts in.

“There were dinosaurs and then there weren’t,” she says, CBC writes. “OK, then, exit through the gift shop!”

The male narrator returns and suggests that listeners can rather spend their $5 on a value meal at the hamburger chain and get a sandwich, fries and a drink.



Fox News reports Tracy Calogheros, CEO of Prince George’s Exploration Place Museum, a science museum with dinosaur models and interactive exhibits, in British Columbia told CBC that the ad “upset me so much I pulled over.”

"It implies that we're just in it to rip people off, basically, in our gift shops and that you're much better to spend your $5 on a new McDonald's burger promotion," she continued.

Colgheros learned from the station that the commercial was running across the country, and not a direct attack on the museum. However, Colgheros still felt “belittled” by the advertisement – as did others.

A spokesperson for McDonald’s, Adam Grachnik, said the ad was meant to be humorous and not offensive to museums.

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