McDonald's has taken down its AI-generated Christmas ad in the Netherlands following a wave of criticism online. The ad, called “the most terrible time of the year,” showed holiday chaos. Scenes included Santa stuck in traffic and a cyclist falling on snow while carrying gifts. The ad encouraged viewers to escape the festive stress by visiting McDonald's restaurants until January. However, social media users were unhappy. One said, “This commercial single-handedly ruined my Christmas spirit.” Another posted, “Good riddance to AI slop.” McDonald’s Netherlands responded, saying the commercial aimed to show stressful holiday moments but recognized that many people see this season as “the most wonderful time of the year.” Melanie Bridge, CEO of Sweetshop Films, the ad's producer, defended AI use in a LinkedIn post. She said, “It’s never about replacing craft, it’s about expanding the toolbox. The vision, the taste, the leadership … that will always be human.” She also highlighted that ten people worked full-time for five weeks on the project, more than a typical shoot. But this sparked debate too. Emlyn Davies of Bomper Studio questioned, “What about the humans who would have been in it, the actors, the choir? Ten people on a project like this is a tiny amount compared to shooting it traditionally live action.” Meanwhile, Coca-Cola has also released AI-generated holiday ads despite mixed reactions. Their latest avoids humans, featuring mostly AI-created cute animals in winter scenes.