McDonald’s USA Denies Report That Travis Scott Partnership Was Launched in Response to Racial Discrimination Suits

Complex

A report from Vice regarding the timing of McDonald’s partnerships with Travis Scott and J Balvin has received a response from the popular fast food company. 

The Vice report cites two historians, Marcia Chatelain, and Chin Jou, who spoke on the company’s history regarding race, with the piece suggesting the partnership was launched in response to recent discrimination lawsuits filed by former employees. African American studies professor Marcia Chatelain, who works at Georgetown University, said there is “no question” that the company launched the collaborations to “try to shore up brand recognition and brand loyalty for McDonald’s on the part of consumers of color.” The company has denied the allegations regarding the collabs, and the lawsuits filed against it.  

One lawsuit was filed by two former executives at McDonald’s this January, with the individuals accusing the company of conducting “a ruthless purge” of Black employees in management positions. The employees further alleged that McDonald’s fostered a “hostile and abusive work environment” for any Black executives and franchise owners at the company. The number of Black employees in such positions dropped from 42 in 2014 to seven in 2019, the lawsuit added.