Day 044 - 02 Nov 94 - Page 69
1 the one we showed there.
2
3 Q. Why would you not show them in a McDonald's box?
4 A. They are puppets and they are characters. I think the
5 box was appropriate for the character. In fact, the whole
6 pun talked about, I think, Ronald sitting in a box as well.
7
8 Q. So if you did have the actual McDonald's box, would that be
9 misleading, if you actually showed the McDonald's box,
10 would that be misleading children into thinking that in
11 reality these Nuggetts would jump up and down?
12 A. I do not think so. I do not believe that children
13 actually believe that these are what they get in the
14 restaurant. They believe that these are puppets,
15 impressions of the food they may get in the restaurant.
16
17 Q. So why would you not put the actual box then?
18 A. I think this particular prop was created so that it
19 would look in context with where Ronald is sat, similar to
20 what Ronald is doing if I remember correctly.
21
22 Q. I think you will find if you look at the ad that it is a
23 McDonald's box. It says "Chicken McNuggetts" on it.
24 McJordans, this is the one adult one that was thrown in?
25 A. Yes, I am not sure why it was on that reel, but that is
26 an adult advertisement.
27
28 Q. Maybe one reason it found its way incongruously in there
29 is, presumably, the purpose of that ad is to associate
30 McDonald's food with a sporting achievement?
31 A. No, that is not true. It is to associate with Michael
32 Jordan himself and people who like Michael Jordan.
33
34 Q. Why do people like Michael Jordan?
35 A. Because he is a great MBA basketball star.
36
37 Q. Right, a sporting achievement. Are you aware that the
38 McJordan Special, as far as I could see, is probably the
39 most unhealthy combination of any single item I have seen
40 at McDonald's. It had burger, bacon. I think it was very
41 high in fat and sodium and saturated fat. Why would you
42 want to associate a particularly unhealthy product with a
43 sporting achievement star?
44
45 MR. JUSTICE BELL: You must not assume too much. You first all
46 have to ask him whether he accepts it is unhealthy. You
47 cannot ask him to assume it is unhealthy just so you can
48 ask that question. If he says it is not unhealthy, then
49 that is the end of that and, again, it is a matter for
50 comment. You can persuade me it is unhealthy, but it
51 happens to be a McDonald's product so ----
52
53 MR. MORRIS: I do not think we looked at this.
54
55 MR. JUSTICE BELL: --- they have put it in the hand of someone
56 who is superb athlete to pretend it is not unhealthy, if
57 that is your argument, but you can only go so far with
58 Mr. Green in the witness box.
59
60 MR. MORRIS: We do not have a nutritionist from America coming
