On August 2nd, a photo taken by a fan of EXO’s Suho at a McDonald’s store quickly went viral on various online platforms, including X (previously known as Twitter).
On the same day, the male idol shared a photo of a McDonald’s hamburger on the private fan communication app Bubble, indicating that he was enjoying it. Suho openly stated the brand’s name, admitting “It’s been a year and a half since I last had McDonald’s.”
Despite Suho’s free promotion for McDonald’s, many fans were disappointed as this fast food brand is currently on the list of boycott targets by the BDS Movement.
Despite being deemed as crimes against humanity by the International Court of Justice, Israel launched a deadly attack on civilians in the Gaza Strip. In an effort to salvage their brand image, McDonald’s attempted to take control of all their restaurants in Israel. However, their gesture of giving free meals to the Israeli army has led to ongoing criticism and boycott movements.
Therefore, the act of Suho, a prominent public figure, purchasing food at McDonald’s and sharing a photo of it can be seen as a form of free publicity for the controversial brand.
Despite his participation in a charity market a few months ago to raise funds for Palestine and the Gaza children, fans are disappointed to hear that Suho openly shared about a boycotted brand. They question the sincerity of his actions, especially since he is aware of the situation in Palestine and has made donations to support the cause.
In addition to Suho, various K-pop idols, including V from BTS, have also received criticism for promoting McDonald’s and other brands that have been boycotted by supporters of Palestine.
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