05 May NEW YORK POST: Byron Allen claims McDonald’s refuses to advertise with black-owned media: suit

The media entrepreneur Byron Allen has filed a second lawsuit against McDonald’s over the fast-food chain’s alleged refusal to advertise with black-owned media.

In a complaint filed last week in Los Angeles, Allen’s Entertainment Studios Networks and Weather Group said McDonald’s “lied” when it pledged in May 2021 to boost national ad spending with black-owned media to 5% from 2% by 2024.

Allen said he would know if McDonald’s were honoring that pledge because his Allen Media Group represents more than 90% of black-owned media. He said he relied on McDonald’s pledge when seeking new business from the company, only to be rebuffed.

The lawsuit seeks $100 million plus punitive damages for McDonald’s alleged violation of a California anti-fraud law against making false promises.

Allen’s case is in addition to his $10 billion federal lawsuit saying McDonald’s ad practices amount to “racial stereotyping” that violated federal and California civil rights laws.