McDonald’s CEO breaks silence on viral burger clip that sparked a fast food feud

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McDonald’s CEO Chris Kempczinski has spoken publicly for the first time about the video of him trying a Big Arch Burger, and the resulting competition it created with other fast food chains.

In early 2026, Chris Kempczinski unexpectedly went viral after posting a video of himself eating McDonald’s new Big Arch Burger.

The way he seemed underwhelmed with the burger, and how carefully he tasted it, caused a lot of discussion online, with many people suggesting he didn’t actually enjoy it.

The video went viral, and soon other fast food companies joined in. Burger King’s CEO responded by making a video of himself enthusiastically eating their updated Whopper.

A month after the incident, Chris Kempczinski spoke with the Wall Street Journal about his experience and what he likes to eat.

Burger King’s CEO responded to a viral video of McDonald’s CEO trying their new Big Arch Burger by filming themselves enthusiastically eating a Whopper.

— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) March 3, 2026

McDonald’s CEO says viral ‘microscopic bite’ was actually good press

According to the McDonald’s CEO, he found out he was trending online – and not for a positive reason – when his child called to tell him he had “gone viral.”

I realized something was happening when my phone started blowing up with messages,” Kempczinski said with a laugh. “I kept getting texts, emails, and calls—and after about the thousandth one, it was just, ‘Yes, I’ve seen it.’

Even though many videos and social media posts made fun of him, Kempczinski actually thinks the incident was good publicity for the launch of the Big Arch Burger in the US.

I’m glad people are discussing the Big Arch. It’s important to remember that you need to be able to handle criticism when using social media.

Kempczinski explained his habit of taking tiny bites came from his upbringing – his mother insisted on very proper table manners when he was a child.

I eat meat, and I jokingly blame my mom for that. She always told me not to talk with my mouth full, and looking back, I probably should have just ignored her and done it anyway.

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McDonald’s recently announced a new promotion tied to the popular Netflix animated series, KPop Demon Hunters. Customers can enjoy special meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, along with collectible items and new sauces.

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2026-04-07 01:19