Cardi B and Offset’s brand deal with McDonald’s has been slammed by some of the fast food giant’s franchisees – amid concerns the deal will damage the chain’s family-friendly image.
WAP rapper Cardi, 30, and Migos star husband Offset, 31, announced their partnership – and personalized meal – with McDonalds last month – but the decision to collaborate with the couple, known for their profanity and sex-laden lyrics, has raised eyebrows.
The couple’s official meal features a cheeseburger, BBQ sauce and a large Coca-Cola for Cardi and a Quarter Pounder with Cheese and large Hi-C Orange Lavabust. The couple also share an order of large fries and a hot apple pie to finish out the meal.
According to Fortune, some franchisees have cited McDonald’s Golden Arches Code which states: ‘Partnerships with celebrities and influencers that have potential risk to damage our brand based on statements they have made or their positions on certain issues aren’t permitted.
‘Music partnerships associated with content that includes offensive language in the lyrics’ are also revealed to be forbidden.
Oh dear: Cardi B and Offset’s brand deal with McDonald’s has been slammed by some of the fast food giant’s franchisees – amid concerns the deal will damage the chain’s family-friendly image
Cardi’s iconic 2020 hit WAP (an acronym for Wet A** P****) memorably included more than 40 curse words, and its music video inspired a raunchy TikTok dance trend.
Dick Adams, a former McDonald’s restaurant owner and consultant to franchisees told the publication the Cardi B -Offset endorsement was a ‘culture shock’.
He said: ‘Especially if you’re a franchisee and you’re 50 or 60 years old and you don’t have any kids and haven’t been exposed to any types of these lyrics.’
‘I have talked to many franchisees who are concerned about it, but it’s good for sales and corporate endorses it. I don’t think there’s a lot of pushback.
Tariq Hassan, McDonald’s chief marketing and customer experience officer for the US market told DailyMail.com: ‘Across our marketing, we’re focused on putting McDonald’s at the center of culture. Artist collabs have helped reignite fans’ love for our food and fueled significant business momentum, both for the company and our restaurant owner/operators.
‘And the reason they’ve been so successful is that our partners are real fans of the brand themselves – that authenticity is our secret sauce. 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 US with our latest campaign, which is about love and celebrating the special moments we all share over McDonald’s.’
It was further claimed that franchisees were displeased when rapper Travis Scott collaborated with the fast food brand in 2020 – due to his obscenity-laden lyrics.
The Travis Scott Meal included a Quarter Pounder with cheese with bacon and lettuce, french fries with BBQ sauce dip and a Sprite drink for $6.
DailyMail.com has contacted representatives for Cardi B, Offset and McDonald’s for comment.
Raunchy: Cardi’s iconic 2020 hit WAP (an acronym for Wet A** P****) memorably included more than 40 curse words, and its music video inspired a raunchy TikTok dance trend
Oh dear: Dick Adams, a former McDonald’s restaurant owner and consultant to franchisees told the publication the Cardi B -Offset endorsement was a ‘culture shock’
After the Super Bowl ad dropped last month announcing their deal, Cardi and Offset shared a snap of them on Instagram teasing the meal, captioned, ‘Get ready yall! Cardi B & Offset meal coming 2/14!! @mcdonalds.’
‘Let me tell you, McDonald’s is date night done right. It doesn’t have to be all boujee. Get your date, grab some good food, and have fun, that’s it,’ Offset said in a statement.
‘Whether it’s going for a date night or grabbing a bite after late-night studio sessions… I’m always asking Offset to take me to McDonald’s,’ Cardi B said in her statement.
‘And now, Offset and I have a meal named after us! I want all my fans to try it — especially with that BBQ sauce,’ she added.
