"Over the same week the chain rolled out two attention-grabbing stunts: a Mexico City pilot that promises to deliver burgers to motorists stuck in traffic via motorcyclists — but only when its app determines a vehicle will be stationary for at least 30 minutes and is within roughly two miles, raising concerns that the program could further congest roads — and an ad campaign promoting “clown-free” children’s birthday parties that uses large, unsettling images of kids frightened by clowns. Both moves read as self-conscious publicity ploys aimed at emulating ironically brand-savvy competitors like Wendy’s and Denny’s while needling McDonald’s, though critics have called the parody of McDonald’s Happy Meals tepid and clumsy." - Tim Forster