Legally Lovin’ It: McDonald’s Defeats Bryon Allen’s $100M Ad-Spending Suit; Mogul Plans Appeal

Greg Doherty / Getty Images / McDonald’s

Byron Allen is currently facing legal challenges from McDonald’s, the fast-food giant, regarding his $100 million lawsuit. He accused the company of failing to fulfill promises to significantly increase advertising with Black-owned media companies.

A Los Angeles Superior Court judge rejected Allen’s lawsuit, ruling that McDonald’s did not engage in a “false promise.” This decision was based on McDonald’s plan to increase its national media spending with Black-owned companies from 2% to 5%, as stated in a self-described “four-year plan” unveiled in May 2021. Allen’s Weather Group, LLC and Plaintiff Entertainment Studios Networks, Inc alleged that McDonald’s was only interested in press releases and not in actually increasing spending.

The judge also noted that McDonald’s plan was to increase its spending to 5% with Black-owned media companies, production houses, and content creators by 2024. The court concluded that the deadline for this commitment had not passed, and it was premature to claim that McDonald’s had failed to meet its promise.

McDonald’s responded to the court’s decision, stating that the lawsuit was frivolous and part of Allen’s smear campaign against the company. They emphasized their commitment to collaborating with diverse-owned partners and promoting inclusion and diversity efforts.

Allen’s legal team plans to appeal the decision, citing a California law prohibiting companies from making false statements to the public. They also mentioned another ongoing lawsuit against McDonald’s for racial discrimination in contracting for advertising. This lawsuit, with an initial claim of $10 billion, is still pending in federal court in Los Angeles.

This legal battle reflects the complex relationship between Allen and McDonald’s, with the outcome still uncertain.

Author: OpenAI