McDonald's UK ad about a boy, his dead father and Filet-O-Fish called out for being insensitive

McDonald's UK is backtracking on what was supposed to be a heartwarming ad about a young boy asking his mother about his dead father and finding out that they both liked the same sandwich: Filet-O-Fish.

The ad, which launched Friday in the UK, was supposed to run for seven weeks, according to a marketing news site, but feedback from child bereavement groups in the UK may have changed that.

Groups spoke out about the ad confusing children who were dealing with loss and trivializing the grieving process - all for the sake of a product.

The BBC reported the TV spot made by Leo Burnett London prompted McDonald's UK to apologise. Many found it offensive, to which the hamburger chain said in an email statement, "We apologise for any upset this advert has caused. This was by no means an intention of ours."

The commercial, which was originally scheduled to run throughout the UK, was supposed to "highlight the role McDonald's has played in our customers' everyday lives - both in good and difficult times," the company said in the statement.

Even the UK's Advertising Standards Authority is looking into whether the sentimental ad went too far, the BBC reported.

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