McDonald's Netherlands withdrew an AI-generated holiday commercial titled The Most Terrible Time of the Year shortly after its launch, following intense online criticism. Viewers said the spot ruined the holiday spirit and described its artificial visuals as AI slop, a term critics have adopted for low-quality generative content.
The pulled ad became one of the more visible examples of a wider consumer reaction against AI-made commercials in the 2025 holiday season. Coca-Cola drew similar criticism after reimagining its classic Holidays Are Coming ad with generative AI, then releasing another AI spot featuring animated animals admiring its delivery trucks. Reviewers found the results technically improved but still artificial in feel.
The fashion industry saw comparable friction. Vogue ran a Guess ad featuring AI-generated models with the disclosure placed in fine print, prompting social media criticism over beauty standards and job losses, while H&M faced pushback after announcing AI digital twins of real models for its campaigns.
Automated ad platforms added another layer of controversy. Some brands using Meta's automated advertising tools reported that AI systems replaced their top-performing ads with AI-generated alternatives without permission, swapping polished campaigns for unexpected visuals.
The reaction has prompted a countertrend. Several brands, including Aerie, Equinox, and Almond Breeze, ran advertising in early 2026 that explicitly rejected AI-generated content, positioning human-made work as a selling point.
Source: DesignRush -- https://news.designrush.com/7-worst-ai-advertising-backfires-2025