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From Fox News: A McDonald’s in Franklin, Tennessee, is attracting viral attention after a customer called out the children’s play area.
X user @NancyAFrench posted an image of the PlayPlace, writing, “This is so heartbreaking. I’m at a new McDonald’s in Franklin, TN, and look at their ‘play place’ for children. Two screens/two chairs.”
The photo showed a corner of the restaurant with a sitting area and two screens embedded in the wall.
A McDonald’s spokesperson reacted, saying in a statement, “McDonald’s and our franchisees are proud to provide family-friendly spaces across many of our U.S. restaurants. While this restaurant has a few interactive features for younger guests, it does not represent the full PlayPlace design and experience.”
Instead of the typical playground, the restaurants just offered two chairs in a corner, for kids to play games on a screen on the wall.
This is so heart breaking. I’m at a new McDonalds in Franklin, TN and look at their “play place” for children. Two screens/two chairs. 😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/j2gxrJZklq
— Nancy French (@NancyAFrench) March 5, 2025
French posted an update, and explained, “I went back in to make sure I didn’t miss something. There was this column thing that might be for getting kids to exercise. But I don’t think this is temporary. I think this is it.”
I went back in to make sure I didn’t miss something. There was this column thing that might be for getting kids to exercise. But I don’t think this is temporary. I think this is it. pic.twitter.com/NkpTvACJ2J
— Nancy French (@NancyAFrench) March 5, 2025
The posts are creating a huge debate on social media, as many people recall the fun playgrounds McDonalds used to offer.
Others, however, argue that the playgrounds created a liability hazard for the restaurant, and said it should just be a place to eat, and nothing more.
“Parents can take their kids to a park to play,” several people argued.
Here is the massive Play Place that location has up until a year ago… pic.twitter.com/MCNiQnJj32
— swenocha.bsky.social (@swenocha) March 5, 2025
Take me back to better days pic.twitter.com/sAsT36UOei
— Jonathan Cogburn, LMFT (@SystemicTexism) March 5, 2025
Look what they took from us pic.twitter.com/Q1PZv3AJs6
— Steve Austin, not a communist (@saustin_moco) March 6, 2025
look what they took from us pic.twitter.com/gsoaBxSdDc
— 𝓜𝓻𝓼. 𝓢 (@smalltown_wife) March 7, 2025
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