NCT’s Live Stream Incident “Proves” SM Entertainment Is Ignoring Backlash Over Mark’s Boycotted Ad
Earlier this month, NCT’s Mark faced criticism over his announced brand deal with McDonald’s, a pro-Palestine boycott target.
Boycotts of the brand started after news revealed that a McDonald’s franchise owner in Israel declared that the restaurants would be providing free meals to Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers and Israeli hospitals. Newsweek claimed that the Israeli franchise has dedicated five stores to this initiative, donating over 100,000 meals.
As a result, though it is not an official boycott target according to the BDS (Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions) Movement, the organization has added it to its encouraged organic boycott targets.
Fans have been highly vocal, pressuring the idol and the company to stop the involvement with McDonald’s, but these complaints have not been addressed, resulting in backlash.
NCT’s Mark, Group Accounts Lose Thousands Of Followers Amid Active Boycott
Now, fans are convinced that the company is aware of the complaints after a recent incident.
Following a recent concert, NCT DREAM went live, where they spoke about several topics, including their own individual projects. Renjun mentioned wanting to talk about something related to Mark before saying that he had a McDonald’s ad.
Right after saying it, Renjun seems to look behind the camera before covering his mouth as the conversation turns a little awkward. The idol mentions that he isn’t able to say something, as more of the members also glance behind the camera.
Many have seen this as the staff signaling not to discuss the collaboration, sparking anger toward the company for disregarding the backlash and not addressing it. Some also criticized NCT DREAM’s reactions, questioning their responses to the topic of his ad.
lmao it became so awkward after renjun said something about the mark mcd collab, it looked like the staffs were telling him not to talk about it💀 yeah they knew the fans are against the collab but still said nothing or address it🥴🥴
— caca🥤 (@hyookj) September 28, 2025
so basically sm knows which means mark also knows, the disappointment has doubled… https://t.co/uwy9YquHRt
— RiRi📟 (@Jaeminhabibi) September 28, 2025
Watching the Dreamies laugh about the McD collab like it’s a joke. You wanna bet at least Mark, Jeno, and Jaemin are aware of the issue. And how ‘pure’ do you think Renjun, Jisung, Chenle, and Haechan are for not knowing about the boycott at all?
— bayangan (@bobougainvillea) September 28, 2025
the bigger problem here is sm and their staff are obviously aware of backlash and know that it's wrong to collab with those brands, but they literally don't care and just stop a member from mentioning it, as if without mentioning it doesn't exist https://t.co/VveBaoE41P
— ❤️🔥🦊❤️🔥 (@daylight3to3) September 28, 2025
