McDonald's Sales Impacted by Backlash Over Misinformation on Israel-Hamas Stance
McDonald's CEO Chris Kempczinski has reported a significant impact on sales in the Middle East and Muslim countries due to misinformation about the company's stance on the Israel-Hamas conflict. This follows a social media post by McDonald's Israel offering free meals to Israeli soldiers, which sparked calls for a boycott and even led to a McDonald's restaurant being ransacked in Lebanon. The CEO emphasized that local franchisees represent the brand in each country, including Muslim countries. McDonald's Malaysia is suing the BDS movement for defamation, while Starbucks has also faced boycotts, leading to a substantial loss in company value. McDonald's is set to report its fourth-quarter results soon, with shares currently trading lower.