Gay McDonald's ad in France evokes strong reactions

Big Mac takes on a new meaning? Read on ....

A gay-themed McDonald's advertisement in France is causing a stir around the globe.
 
The advertisement, which uses the slogan "Come As You Are", was meant to "recognize the diversity of McDonald's customers in France," a McDonald's Australian spokeswoman told the Sydney Morning Herald.
 
The ad opens with a closeted young boy talking on the phone with his lover and looking longingly at their class picture. After telling his lover "I miss you too," he quickly hangs up when his father returns with their order.
 
The father sees the class photo and begins to reflect on his own youth, saying, "You look just like me at your age. Let me tell you, I was quite the ladies' man!"
 
He then says to his son, "Too bad your class is all boys ... you could get all the girls." The boy wryly smiles to himself, and the advertisement slogan appears on the screen.
 
Some groups are questioning the rationale behind McDonalds' ad. Fox News' Bill O'Reilly mocked the ad during a segment on his show, asking if the company had an "Al-Qaeda ad?"
 
But others are trumpeting the ad for its ability to avoid stereotyping.
 
Rodney Croome, spokesperson for the Australian Coalition for Equality, told the Sydney Morning Herald that the ad was "a refreshingly realistic depiction of a young man who's in a same-sex relationship, who isn't angst-ridden and who is in control of his life even as he faces the question all young gay people face: 'When do I tell my dad?'"
 
Croome added, "The irony about this ad receiving so much attention is its message is that being gay is just another part of life."

McDonald's brand director in France says the ad simply looks at how French society is today.

"We're very comfortable with the topic of homosexuality, there is obviously no problem with homosexuality in France today," Nathalie Legarlantezec told Yagg.com. "The point was not to show someone who is troubled, especially a teenager. We know it can be difficult for some people, but we wouldn't have dared show someone who is struggling."

But don't expect the controversial ad to make its way to the states just yet. Lisa Howards, McDonalds's director of corporate media relations, told Media Matters that the "Come as You Are" campaign was made exclusively for France.

"The ad you're referencing is one of a series of ads called "Come as You Are," which recognized he diversity of McDonald's customers in France. This particular commercial was produced by McDonald's France and is running only in France," Howards said in the statement. "Each of our 117 markets around the world determines their own advertising and marketing."

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A French Wine to Drink All Summer Long - Wine Spectator

A French Wine to Drink All Summer Long

Château Pibarnon Bandol Rosé 2009

This latest entry might as well be called, “What I'm drinking now and for the next couple of months.”

Folks know I'm pretty fond of big reds made from Rhône varieties—except when it’s 85 degrees on the back porch. But during the summer, I don't want to give up complexity in a wine or the ability to match it with food when the weather gets warm. That's where a great rosé comes in.

This rosé from France’s Provence region is made from a blend of equal parts Mourvèdre and Cinsault. With its pale salmon color, porcelainlike mouthfeel and alluring notes of dried cherry, watermelon rind and rose petal, Château Pibarnon’s rosé can be a refreshing aperitif—but it also has the complexity and underlying acidity to match with food. I paired it with lamb burgers, heavy on the Vietnamese coriander and grilled over Alder wood. I rated the wine 90 points, non-blind, and found it for $24.

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Avoid inheritance mistakes in France

We receive many reader queries about French inheritance – and the sensitive issue of what to do when a relative dies here. UK-French law specialist Graham Platt answers your questions below, and our list of local contacts is here to help

My husband and I own a second home in Normandy. We wrote our wills in England (where our main home is). Will this cover our French home too?

French law will govern what happens to your French home on the death of either you or your husband. In the absence of a French will, the notary will divide the property according to strict provisions and children are first in line.

The survivor of you and your husband is entitled to a share in the deceased spouse’s French estate. The size of share will depend on how many children you have.

An English will is only relevant if there is any share of the French property left after the entitlement of any children and the surviving spouse are taken into account.

It is always preferable to make a French will because the formalities are much simpler and less costly to deal with. If there is no French will, it is sometimes necessary to arrange for the UK will and other documents to be translated and “legalised” and this increases the cost and time.

How long does it take to write a will in France and how much does it cost? Do we have to go via a notaire?

There are various types of will permitted in France. The simplest is a testament olographe. This is handwritten by the individual on plain paper.

It can be done without the involvement of a notary but if there are any errors it can be deemed invalid at a later date.

It is therefore prudent to get the assistance of a law specialist or your local notary. The will should be lodged with the notary for safekeeping and for registration at the Central Wills Registry. The cost including guidance from the notary is generally no more than €100. If arranged with the assistance of a UK solicitor, add an extra £100.

My husband has children from a previous marriage that he has not seen for 20 years. How can we make sure that I do not lose the property to them if he dies?

It is very difficult to disinherit natural or adopted children under French law.

If you have not already bought a property in France there are ways in which you can get around the succession laws but this needs careful consideration and discussion with a law specialist.

If you are already owners of a French property, it should be possible for you to postpone the interests of your respective stepchildren until the subsequent death of the survivor of you or your husband. This can be done by giving each other a life interest in the property. Consult a French law specialist or your local notary to discuss your options.

Graham Platt will be speaking at a free seminar on inheritance issues in Marigny (Manche) on June 14, supported by The Advertiser.

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