McDonald's Faces Backlash for Shifting Gun Incident Responsibility to Victims' Parents

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Jaehee] McDonald's, the world's largest fast-food chain headquartered in Chicago, USA, is facing a backlash after blaming the parents of victims for the responsibility of gun-related incidents.

According to major foreign media on the 3rd (local time), Chris Kempczinski (53), President and CEO of McDonald's, is under fire after text messages he sent to Lori Lightfoot (59), the Democratic mayor of Chicago, in April were revealed belatedly.

In the text messages, Kempczinski mentioned Adam Tollido (13) and Jazlyn Adams (7), who lost their lives in consecutive shootings in Chicago in March and April, saying, "In both cases, the parents failed to protect their children," and added, "It's not easy to say, and the solution is an even harder problem."

Tollido was shot dead in March while being chased by police in Little Village, a predominantly Latino neighborhood. Adams was riding in a car with her father passing through a McDonald's drive-thru on the West Side, a predominantly Black neighborhood, when she was hit by a bullet that pierced the car window and died eight days later in April.

Chicago's WEBZ broadcast reported that "the timing of Kempczinski's text was April 19, right after Mayor Lightfoot visited McDonald's headquarters and the two had a meeting."

It also explained that a social activist requested the city authorities to disclose the text messages between Kempczinski and Mayor Lightfoot under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and obtained them.

After the texts were made public, Mayor Lightfoot stated in a press release, "Blaming victims is unacceptable under any circumstances," and added, "Families did everything they could." She further expressed, "Even when children are loved and supported, tragedies still occur."

Kempczinski explained, "I was reflecting on the incident from a parent's perspective and blaming myself," but apologized, saying, "However, it was a wrong statement, and I did not fully consider the perspective of the victims' families." He added, "There was a lack of empathy and compassion."

However, McDonald's employees and social activists gathered in front of McDonald's headquarters that afternoon to hold a protest.

The protesters condemned Kempczinski's text messages as "ignorant, racist, and unacceptable."

Adriana Sanchez, a McDonald's employee participating in the protest, said, "Kempczinski does not understand the environment and circumstances faced by low-income parents. Many parents try their best for their children but have no choice but to leave them alone while working two to three jobs a day to make a living."

Additionally, the Little Village neighborhood association urged, "If these incidents are considered the parents' responsibility, then raise the wages of hourly workers and actively return corporate profits to Black and Latino communities."

The protesters are demanding a meeting with Kempczinski.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.