February 8th 2024.
A recent legal battle between Byron Allen and McDonald's has come to a close as a judge has decided to dismiss Allen's $100 million lawsuit against the fast-food giant. The lawsuit, filed by Allen Media Group in May of last year, accused McDonald's of reneging on its promise to increase advertising spend with Black-owned media outlets.
However, on February 2, a judge ruled that Allen's legal documents did not provide enough evidence to support his claims in court, according to Variety. In his suit, Allen referenced a pledge made by McDonald's in 2021, around the one-year anniversary of George Floyd's murder, in which the company promised to allocate more advertising dollars to diverse-owned media companies.
Specifically, McDonald's stated that it would increase its advertising spend with Black-owned platforms from 2% to 5% over the course of a four-year plan. However, the judge ultimately sided with McDonald's, stating that a press release cannot be used as the basis for legal action.
Allen Media Group plans to appeal the ruling, and they also have an ongoing $10 billion lawsuit against McDonald's in federal court. This suit alleges discriminatory advertising practices and violations of civil rights laws based on racial stereotyping.
Allen's legal team remains determined to move forward with the case, despite the recent dismissal. "We disagree with the decision," Allen's attorney Louis "Skip" Miller told Deadline. "The California legislature enacted a law prohibiting companies from making false statements to the public, and this lawsuit seeks to uphold that law. We're going to appeal this decision, and it in no way affects Allen Media's lawsuit pending in federal court for racial discrimination in advertising contracting with McDonald's."
Despite this setback, Allen and his team remain focused on their ultimate goal of holding McDonald's accountable for their actions. "That lawsuit against McDonald's is alive and well – and is headed for trial," Miller added.
This news comes after Allen's recent bid to purchase Paramount Global for $30 billion, which caused the company's stock to skyrocket. Allen has been a vocal advocate for diversity and representation in the media industry, and this lawsuit against McDonald's is just one example of his efforts to hold corporations accountable for their actions.
In the end, while this particular lawsuit may have been dismissed, Allen and his team remain determined to continue fighting for equality and justice in the business world.
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