Trendjack or cultural instinct? McDonald’s Malaysia turns two fries into MJ tribute

McDonald’s Malaysia has once again tapped into internet culture with a minimalist but highly shareable trendjacking post inspired by the renewed buzz around Michael Jackson.

Published in conjunction with the release of the upcoming “Michael” biopic, the creative featured two fries arranged to resemble the late pop icon’s signature forward-leaning dance pose, one of the most recognisable silhouettes in pop culture history.

Simple in execution but instantly recognisable, the post quickly gained traction online, racking up 86,500 likes and more than 960 comments within a week. Captioned “Smooth je bila dapat layan fries Mekdi”, the creative drew waves of “Smooth Criminal” references and MJ-themed reactions from users, with one comment calling the brand “MJ Donalds” garnering nearly 3,000 likes on its own.

Don't miss: Did McDonald’s Malaysia just launch its own K-pop boy group? 

According to Chin Mei Lee, chief marketing officer, McDonald's Malaysia, the idea emerged organically after the team noticed similarities between Michael Jackson’s iconic pose and the shape of McFries.

“We’ve been doing trend jacking posts all this while, and MJ was a perfect moment. We watched it over the weekend and saw the similarity between MJ's iconic dance and the McFries. Our agency cooked, sent it over, and boom,” she told A+M.

She added that while the brand has previously leaned into cultural moments tied to properties such as the past Coldplay concert and Squid Game, reactive creatives often come with unique art direction challenges.

“The secret is speed and a strong creative, magic will happen with these two combined,” she added.

The creative was developed by the brand's creative agency Leo Malaysia, whose team was inspired after watching the “Michael” movie and wanted to channel that excitement into a social-first execution. What began as a simple tribute evolved into a hype-driven trendjack, blending Jackson’s iconic footwork with McDonald’s world-famous fries into a visual audiences immediately recognised and connected with.

The execution was also viewed as an example of how McDonald’s continues to move with culture, leaning into trends in ways uniquely tied to the brand’s own visual assets and identity.

The fast food giant also continued its streak of culturally resonant minimalist visuals over Mother’s Day weekend. In a separate social post, McDonald’s Malaysia used part of its iconic Golden Arches as the sleeve of a mother figure holding a child’s hand, transforming one of the world’s most recognisable logos into an emotional visual metaphor.

“No matter how old we are or how big we grow, a mother’s hand is still the one we always long to hold onto,” the caption read.

Together, the two posts highlight how brands are increasingly relying on stripped-back visual storytelling and cultural immediacy to generate engagement in crowded social feeds, proving that sometimes the simplest executions leave the strongest impression.

McDonald's Malaysia had just come off the back of its "SKB" campaign for its 'Spicy Korean Burger' series, debuting its very own boy group, fronted by local Malaysian heartthrobs Meerqeen, Hael Husaini and Jang Han Byul, who are definitely here to light a fire in fans’ hearts.

The boy group performs an upbeat, head-bopping pop track, which McDonald’s Malaysia dubs its “MV K-Terhangat Mekdi” (‘Mekdi’s K-hottest music video’).

The music video kicks off with a catchy mix of synths, electric guitar and beats, before launching into McDonald’s iconic “Ba da ba ba ba”, sung in harmony by the trio. The lyrics double as both a love song to the Spicy Korean Burger and a cheeky love letter to fans.

Be part of #Content360 Malaysia, 13 May 2026, where creativity and community collide. Explore how AI-powered imagination, culturally resonant storytelling, and platform-savvy strategies are shaping the future of content. Gain practical insights, discover new tactics, and learn how the region’s top creators and brands are crafting campaigns that truly resonate.

Related articles: 
McDonald’s drops a bop to get bikers into the drive-thru lane 
McDonald's Malaysia tugs hearts with Chinese New Year film on sibling bonds
McDonald's MY celebrates the new year with a golden touch