McDonald's New Ad Turns Out to Be Mexican Diss

A McDonald's ad posted to Facebook has prompted outrage, ultimately forcing the company to take it down and apologize. The spot advertised the McBurrito as a replacement for tamales, Fusion reports. "Tamales are a thing of the past," the ad proclaimed in Spanish. But tamales are a longstanding tradition in Mexico, and social media users didn't take kindly to the message, which also noted that the McBurrito is sold unwrapped; tamales are wrapped in leaves. "How dare you insult a beautiful tradition, I’d rather eat tamales than your horrible rotten products," wrote one Facebook user.

To make matters worse, NBC News reports, yesterday was Día de la Candelaria, a festive occasion associated with tamales. "On Mexico's National Tamale Holiday, @McDonalds calls them 'a thing from the past'. A big #fail for @McDonaldsMexico," tweeted MXCNews. McDonald's has pulled the ad, Fusion notes, and the AP reports that the company has apologized. "It was never the intention of McDonald's Mexico to disrespect traditions or traditional Mexican foods like tamales," McDonald's said on its Mexico website. "We apologize to those who might have been offended by the publication, which has been withdrawn from our social media." (More McDonald's stories.)