Sarah Michelle Gellar, the actress best known for her role in the hit television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer, recently shared an interesting story from her childhood with Buzzfeed UK. When she was just five years old, Gellar found herself at the center of a lawsuit due to a commercial she did for Burger King.
The Burger King – McDonald’s Lawsuit
Sarah Michelle Gellar‘s career in the entertainment industry started at a very young age, and she recently shared an interesting story from her childhood in an interview with Buzzfeed UK. When Gellar was just five years old, she appeared in a commercial for Burger King, and this particular commercial made headlines for being the first time a competitor’s name was mentioned in an advertisement. The competitor in question was none other than fast food giant, McDonald’s.
Suggested Article: “He’d break my neck”: Sam Raimi Reveals Why He Won’t Come Back for Spider-Man 4 With Tom Holland After Doctor Strange 2
The Wolf Pack star stated that the commercial was a big campaign, and it was a surreal experience for her to be a part of it at such a young age.
However, things took a turn when McDonald’s sued the advertising agency, Burger King, and Gellar herself, for mentioning their brand in the ad. The actress jokingly referred to the situation as “funny,” but it was certainly a unique and challenging experience for her. She said in the interview,
“This is really funny. This was this big campaign that I did for Burger King and I was 5. And I was the first person to say another competitor’s name in a job, and so McDonald’s turned around and sued the advertising agency, Burger King and me at 5.”
Despite the legal proceedings, Gellar vividly recalls the day of the commercial shoot, stating that she was excited to have the chance to eat a burger. However, she was soon disappointed to discover that the burgers used in commercials are not real and are instead specially crafted to look perfect.
Also read: The Thor’s That Could Have Been
The seeds are glued onto the burger, shellacked, and painted, a far cry from the burgers we see in real life.
“But what I really remember was I didn’t eat a lot of fast food at the time, and when we were there, I just wanted a burger. I was so excited because my mom said that I could have the burger. And what I learned on that day is that when they make the burgers for commercials, they glue each seed on it to make it look all perfect and beautiful, and then they shellac it, and they paint it. You guys, TV is not real,”
Gellar wittily commented that this experience taught her that TV is not real.
The Lawsuit’s Affect on Sarah Michelle Gellar’s life
In a 2004 interview with Sunday Express, Sarah Michelle Gellar mentioned that she was not allowed to eat at McDonald’s during the lawsuit, a situation that she found challenging, especially because many of her friends would have their birthday parties at the fast-food chain. She expressed regret over missing out on the opportunity to enjoy their famous apple pies. Gellar told the outlet –
“It was tough because, when you’re a little kid, McDonald’s is where all your friends have their birthday parties, so I missed out on a lot of apple pies,”
While she acknowledged that “banned is a strong word”, the experience was undoubtedly a difficult one for the young actress, who was merely a five-year-old at the time. It is amazing to think that such a young child was already navigating the complexities of the entertainment industry, and the legal issues that come with it.
Sarah Michelle Gellar’s story serves as a reminder of the many challenges that come with being in the public eye, and the importance of having a strong support system to help navigate such difficulties. Despite the obstacles she faced, Gellar has gone on to have a successful and fulfilling career in the entertainment industry.
Source: The News
