“Boycott Everything” — SM Idol Faces Extreme Backlash Over Leaked New Brand Deal
NCT‘s Mark Lee is currently facing criticism over an alleged brand deal that has not yet been announced.
Rumors initially circulated that Mark might be the new face of a McDonald’s product, though there was no solid proof at the time. However, on September 9, a netizen shared an image appearing to feature Mark on a poster, seeming to promote a pizza product yet to be announced by the brand.
The QR code on the image is also linked to a currently unavailable page.
While new brand deals are usually a good thing, those announced with McDonald’s are not well-received due to the on-going Pro-Palestine boycotts.
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.
As a result, fans have criticized both SM Entertainment and Mark for allegedly going ahead with this brand deal, claiming that the idol should be aware of the on-going violence in Palestine.
stop blaming a company for the actions of a 26 years old. Palestine just got bombed a couple days ago it was every fucking where on the internet
— ꨄ︎ (@kiittymark) September 9, 2025
mark has definitely heard about the boycotting list, this is is just disgusting and ignorant
i better not see anyone defending him 😭 he a grown man he knows what he is doing and if collaborating with a brand that funds a genocide happening in my country, he can fuck off
— nini (@jn1orider) September 9, 2025
mark is one of the most successful artist in this company and you’re telling me he couldn’t say ‘no’ ? he’s 26 and i bet he KNOWS about what’s happening in palestine
— ່ (@flwreon) September 9, 2025
Being a proud Christian and endorsing a brand that is founding the bombing of the birthplace of the Jesus is absolutely disgusting https://t.co/LWLelDfhzP
— ineslzy (@ineslzy) September 9, 2025
