Fact Check

Is There a 'BTS Meal' at McDonald's?

The Korean pop boy band BTS bagged seven Guinness World Records in 2020.

Published April 19, 2021

Updated May 26, 2021
 (McDonald's)
Image Via McDonald's
Claim:
McDonald’s and K-pop band BTS announced a meal collaboration to be released in May 2021.

In mid-April 2021, the fast-food empire McDonald’s announced a meal collaboration with Korean pop boy band BTS. The announcement rocked Twitter, inciting Tweets from the millions-strong musical group’s fanbase.

The collaboration was announced on TikTok and Twitter by the fast-food company and BIGHIT MUSIC, the record label of BTS. In an email to Snopes, McDonald’s said that the signature meal is set to include a 10-piece Chicken McNuggets®, medium World Famous Fries®, medium Coke® and, for the first time ever in the U.S., sweet chili and cajun dipping sauces inspired by popular recipes from McDonald’s South Korea.

Image courtesy of McDonald's

“BTS truly lights up the world stage, uniting people across the globe through their music,” said Morgan Flatley, Chief Marketing Officer, McDonald’s USA. “We’re excited to bring customers even closer to their beloved band in a way only McDonald’s can – through our delicious food – when we introduce the BTS signature order on our menu next month."

McDonald’s said that the BTS collaboration builds on McDonald’s partnerships with rapper Travis Scott and reggaeton musician J Balvin last year under the celebrity signature orders program launched in U.S. restaurants in 2020. But this time around, BTS will be the first member of the program to eventually launch in 50 countries across six continents.

“The band has great memories with McDonald’s. We’re excited about this collaboration and can’t wait to share the BTS Meal with the world,” said BIGHIT MUSIC.

Also known as the Bangtan Boys, the seven-member boy band was formed in 2010 and debuted in 2013. BTS fans are so die-hard that they’ve given themselves the nickname “The Army” — which stands for Adorable Representative M.C. for Youth.

McDonald’s told Snopes that customers will have the option of ordering BTS meals in participating restaurants or through contactless mobile orders, the app, drive-through or via McDelivery. The BTS meal will be available at select U.S. restaurants beginning May 26 and will be rolled out to others across the globe through June 25.

And on May 26, the band’s signature order was made available at participating U.S. restaurants nationwide.

“Seeing the passion and anticipation from our fans worldwide since we announced the BTS Meal has been incredible,” said Morgan Flatley, McDonald's chief marketing and digital customer experience officer, of the launch. “And the best part is, we are just getting started. We are preparing to give customers even more ways to experience this collaboration in the coming weeks – through a merch drop and exclusive digital content that will provide a behind-the-scenes look at BTS.”

Image courtesy of McDonald's

Updates

UPDATE [May 26, 2021]: This article was updated to announce the launch and include newly released images.

Madison Dapcevich is a freelance contributor for Snopes.

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