There’s loads of great stuff about Twitter, right? You get to see reality stars’ dick pics in real time, there are internet cats on there, plus all that breaking news malarkey. But OH GOD STRIKE US DOWN – the worst possible thing about Twitter is the #branter.
That’s banter between brands, btw, and it is always uniquely terrible. Which is why this latest marketing campaign from Burger King has made us feel quite uncomfortable.
Let’s back it up. This morning, Burger King tweeted McDonald’s with a controversial proposal: to create and sell a ‘McWhopper’ burger on 21 September to celebrate Peace Day.
A pop-up restaurant in Atlanta would serve the special burger, according to this proposal, as the city lies halfway between the two companies’ HQs.
“The unthinkable burger,” BK’s new website proclaims. “All these ingredients come together to build the burger some said would never happen. Some said the same thing about world peace. Together, let’s prove them wrong on Peace Day, September 21, 2015.
“Everything in our proposal is up for discussion, from the name right through to the packaging. The only thing we can’t change is the date.
“So let’s talk soon.”
So far, so rad, right? BK even said the burger should be given away for free, with customers ‘paying’ for their food with ‘tray mat truces’.
BUT McDonald’s did not agree, which led to this awkward Facebook post from CEO Steve Easterbrook:
That P.S – how brutal is that?!
There’s been no word from Burger King yet on that pitiless rejection message, so presumably there’s just a room full of execs sobbing into each others’ suits about the McMeanies being mean to them.