Recently, numerous McD's restaurant owners have submitted written complaints about the company's partnership with the rappers, alleging that the collab broke the 'golden arches code.'
- Mar 4, 2023
AceShowbiz - Cardi B has reacted to backlash over her and Offset's McDonald's meal. The "WAP" raptress turned to her social media platform to defend her collaboration after some franchisees claimed that the project doesn't align with the company's values.
Hopping on The Neighborhood Talk's Instagram post's comment section on Friday, March 3, the New York-born femcee wrote, "Still one of the collabs that brought them the most revenues." She then encouraged her fans to "get a McWap lmaaoooo."
Cardi's reaction came after her collaboration sparked backlash as multiple owners of McDonald's franchise restaurants alleged that it broke the "golden arches code." Numerous McD's restaurant owners have submitted written complaints about the company's partnership with the rappers.
Their concerns reportedly lie in worries that the married hip-hop duo and their perspective images and song lyrics do not reflect the "McDonald's family-friendly" brand. Other owners have alleged the collaboration violates the "Golden Arches Code" of brand standards.
The code purportedly states promotions should not include, "musical partnerships associated with content that includes offensive language in the lyrics." Some restaurants have reportedly refused to promote the meal entirely.
Despite the backlash, McDonald's confirmed to Wall Street Journal that the Cardi B and Offset meal promotion has been met with "widespread support and excitement from owners and their restaurant employees." In another statement provided to Bloomberg by Tariq Hassan, chief marketing and customer experience officer for the U.S. market, the fast-food chain is currently "focused on putting McDonald's at the center of culture."
Additionally, a rep for McDonald's expanded on the value of artist collaborations for the company, explaining how the collaborations have helped them reconnect with their long-standing customer base.
"[Artist collabs] have helped reignite fans' love for our food and fueled significant business momentum, both for the company and our restaurant owner/operators," the statement read. "Cardi and Offset are an iconic couple who have their own date-night tradition at McDonald's that goes back years. We're proud to share a little piece of that with customers across the U.S. with our latest campaign."
The collaboration, called "The Cardi B and Offset Meal," is a meal for two. It includes a cheeseburger with BBQ sauce, a Coke for Cardi B and a Quarter Pounder with cheese and Hi-C Orange Lavaburst for Offset as well as large fries and an apple pie. The meal first debuted in a Super Bowl commercial before being available to the public on Valentine's Day.
