Byron Allen’s $10 billion lawsuit against McDonald’s for racial discrimination will go to trial

Has Sarah Purcell commented?

[quote] According to court filings, McDonald’s spends hundreds of millions of dollars each year to advertise its products in national media.

[quote] Instead, the lawsuit claims Allen and his companies were relegated to McDonald’s Black-only ad agency, which has a significantly smaller budget. The racial discrimination suit argues that despite annual pleas for the Allen Media companies to be included in McDonald’s general ad market, they remained in its Black-only market because

[quote] Allen is Black, which Allen’s parent company Entertainment Studios described as “blatant and pernicious discrimination.”

That's definitely discrimination.

I hope he wins all $10 billion or even more.

I will watch this trial . Hideous discrimination .

[quote]That's definitely discrimination.

Perhaps. It's a lot more complicated.

Market segmentation is a real thing. Targeting marketing is critical for success. Who do you believe is the primary audience of BET or Telemundo?

It also goes to the question of whether you believe that a black-only agency would do a better job placing ads targeting that segment of the market.

Or should the company simply ignore that segment entirely and focus on the mass market, potentially not placing any ads or worse, ineffective ads, by using a more generalist agency.

It also goes to whether Allen's properties would have gotten as much if they had been included in the wider ad buys. If McDonald's eliminated the black agency and put all the money into the primary agency, would they have received as much in ad sales or would they have lost out on ads.

Sure, the pool of money was larger at the other agency, but would they have actually received a larger cut? I question that. It's also possible that Allen's media companies were a big fish in the smaller ad agency pond, so received an outsized portion of ad spends.

What Allen wanted was a share of BOTH. But realistically, he was never going to get that as companies allocate budgets based on specific segments they want to cover.

[quote]his companies were relegated to McDonald’s Black-only ad agency

I didn't know this existed. A quick trip to YouTube shows multiple compilations of McDonald's "Black-only" ads riddled with racial stereotypes.

The way I see it is that Byron Allen is just a marketing company that wanted McDonald's advertising revenue to target ALL segments of the population, and not just black people.

Why not treat him like any other media company, regardless of who owns it?

He's a media mogul who just wants a piece of McDonald's advertising budget

His race/color has absolutely nothing to do with it, because his COMPANY isn't black. It's just a media company.

So why limit him to only a black market?

That's ridiculous.

If he were white, it wouldn't be an issue. Like, at all.

But because the owner is black, he can only market to black people?

That's called discrimination. Any way you look at it.

[quote]I didn't know this existed. A quick trip to YouTube shows multiple compilations of McDonald's "Black-only" ads riddled with racial stereotypes.

Importantly, created or at least approved by a black-only agency, presumably owned and or run by black people, thus mitigating any potential backlash regardingn said racial stereotypes.

Also, is it stereotyping or is it ads that resonate with the target audience?

Would ads with hot mostly naked men be "stereotyping" gay people or effectively targeting with imagery which resonates with DLers? Or, if someone created an ad with some little queen were trying to dial a phone with a pencil to call grandma during the holidays, would that be stereotyping or would DLers think it was adorable?

[quote]created or at least approved by a black-only agency, presumably owned and or run by black people, thus mitigating any potential backlash regardingn said racial stereotypes. thus mitigating any potential backlash regardingn said racial stereotypes.

If this were true, there wouldn't be so many YouTube videos and comments about racism, stereotyping, and pointing out white McDonald's executives are the ultimate decision-makers.

[quote]is it stereotyping or is it ads that resonate with the target audience?

The ads don't resonate and this comment implies black people are a monolith who all identify with stereotypes.

[quote]Would ads with hot mostly naked men be "stereotyping" gay people or effectively targeting with imagery which resonates with DLers?

I don't know how you would incorporate this into a McDonald's ad, but, yes, this would be stereotyping.

You want to be right, so go ahead and think you're right, I'm removing this thread from my watched list.

Since you didn't watch the video I linked, there is no point in linking another one, but I'm doing it anyway. I'm also quoting R6 in case you missed his comment:

[quote]Byron Allen is just a marketing company that wanted McDonald's advertising revenue to target ALL segments of the population, and not just black people. [...] His race/color has absolutely nothing to do with it, because his COMPANY isn't black. It's just a media company. So why limit him to only a black market? That's ridiculous. If he were white, it wouldn't be an issue. Like, at all. But because the owner is black, he can only market to black people?

Hope unc wins that suit. Drop a billy my way

The general market agency is the legendary Wieden & Kennedy, of Nike fame, and staffed top to bottom with all races. Byron isn’t being discriminated against because he’s black; he’s being discriminated against because he’s mediocre.

How is Allen mediocre?

[quote] Byron isn’t being discriminated against because he’s black; he’s being discriminated against because he’s mediocre.

It's so interesting you wrote that.

Because your IMPLICATION is that he's mediocre BECAUSE he's black.

You also give absolutely no factual basis for calling him mediocre.

On the other hand, I can tell you that he's NOT mediocre because he is a former television funny guy and talk show host, who went from some ridiculously obscure tv shows, to building a media EMPIRE worth billions.

I would hardly call that "mediocre." I would call that EXTRAORDINARY.

I'd like to see the basis upon which Wieden & Kennedy denied his requests to do advertising for McDonald's.

Byron is no dummy. He wouldn't be bringing this suit if it was just a frivolous accusation. That would just damage his reputation.

So let them try to defend themselves. I'll just bet you they are going to lose, and they will have to pay him every single penny of the $10 billion.

Then he won't need their fucking McDonald's account.

HA!

McDonald's argument would make sense if all of Allen's properties were marketed to the Black audience. But in fact he owns all kinds of media. Why should marketing for The Weather Channel go through the Black department?

Excuse me, gays here!

Allen's rise is really remarkable, r12. I remember he was a stand up comedian in the 80s and had a movie review and interview program that came on late night after the local news on weekends in the late 80s/early 90s. I watched occasionally then forgot about him. About 10 years ago I caught an article about him and lo and behold he's a a media mogul whose companies are valued in the billions. That's the kind of mediocrity that needs to be bottled and sold.

Is it because he is bleck?

[quote] McDonald's argument would make sense if all of Allen's properties were marketed to the Black audience. But in fact he owns all kinds of media. Why should marketing for The Weather Channel go through the Black department?

Precisely why McDonald's is going to lose this lawsuit.

Here's one, R5.

Not sure why it's labeled "racist," though.

It seems normal to me.

[quote] What Is Byron Allen's Net Worth?

[quote] Byron Allen is an American comedian, television producer, and entertainment mogul who has a net worth of $800 million. Byron Allen is one of the most under-the-radar, extremely successful people in Hollywood. He began his career as a stand-up comedian, making his debut on "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson," one of the youngest comedians ever to perform on the show. This early success led to a regular role on the NBC television series "Real People."

[quote] Transitioning from comedy to business, Allen founded Entertainment Studios in 1991, a fully integrated global media production and distribution company. This company became notable for producing and distributing TV shows, selling advertising, and pioneering court show productions. In 2009, he launched six HD television networks. He also owns and operates Allen Media Group (AMG).

[quote] In 2018, Byron paid $300 million for The Weather Channel television network (not the website). Between his two companies, he owns 12 cable networks and actively produces around 70 television shows that air on affiliates across the United States.

[quote] [bold]In recent years, Byron has earned headlines for launching a series of (so far) unsuccessful high-dollar acquisitions.[/bold]

[quote] In March 2020, he made an $8.5 billion offer to buy TV station owner Tegna. In 2022, he attempted to buy the NFL's Washington Commanders. In September 2023, he made a $10 billion offer to buy ABC and various other TV stations from Disney. In November 2023, he attempted to buy TV stations owned by E.W. Scripps. In December 2023, he made a $3.5 billion offer to buy Black Entertainment Television from Paramount. In January 2024, he completed a $14 billion offer to buy out Paramount.

[quote] [bold]None of these deals have actually come to fruition.[/bold]

Now I'm starting to wonder if the media giants are actively working to keep him out of the "big leagues" on purpose?

Every offer he has made has been rejected.

I'm very curious why?

McDonald’s gives me nasty smelling gas. Can I sue?

You're beyond help, R20.

Yes, I remember watching him on TV years ago. He's done very well 👏👏👏

But I especially love and respond to MickeyDee advertising! “I’se luv dis place!” Hee hee. Remember that one? C-razy!

R23 makes no sense.