McDonald's sorry over 'disgusting' music played at restaurant

McDonald's has issued a grovelling apology after 'pornographic' and explicit music featuring underage sex and violent rape was played in its Haverfordwest restaurant. Pub landlord Steve Davidson was eating breakfast with his 20-month-old grandson, Charlie, when the extremely explicit lyrics in a song by Rucka Rucka Ali called Only 17 (NSFW language, racist, misogynistic, homophobic, etc., etc. You've been warned!) began.
Rucka Rucka Ali is an American rapper, radio personality, singer, comedian, and satirist known for his song parodies which often cause controversy with vulgar lyrics and so-called humor. The lyrics played out across McDonald’s Haverfordwest at around 9.30am on Friday, November 15 include detailed references to extreme sex acts, rape and prison violence. The track is taken from a 2011 album called Probably Racist. McDonald’s has apologised to Mr Davidson, who runs the Three Crowns in Milford Haven, and said the ‘content and the lyrics were wholly inappropriate and had no place in McDonald’s’.

The incident was blamed on an employee leaving their personal music player connected to the restaurant sound system while on a night shift and not removing it before the dining area reopened the next morning. Mr Davidson said: “The bottom line is that it’s bordering on pornography. It certainly shouldn’t be playing in a restaurant where they sell Happy Meals to children. The lyrics are disgusting, they are very explicit - not just a bit risqué or a bit of swearing. It’s not what you want while you’re having your breakfast. You have to be over 18 to download it, for them to be playing it somewhere that attracts children is obviously a concern.”

A McDonald’s spokesman added that management had spoken to the employee in question and reminded all staff about company policies and the reasons for them. “McDonald’s is a family-friendly restaurant and we endeavor to provide a restaurant environment that is welcoming, comfortable and enjoyable for everybody. The vast majority of our restaurants, including Haverfordwest, have external music providers dedicated to creating playlists that have been thoroughly screened for appropriateness of language and content. We apologize to Mr Davidson for this isolated lapse in our rigorous standards,” she added.