TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — One of Taiwan’s top-ranked boy’s high schools has become entangled in a social controversy involving public criticism of the McDonald’s corporation.
Students at Taipei Municipal Chien Kuo High School, along with students at several other high schools, sparked outrage last week after posting photos in a show of support for the fast-food chain, reported UDN. On Sunday, school officials at Chien Kuo High School issued a statement that the school has received multiple threats of violence targeting students in response to the posts.
The actions of the high school boys and subsequent threats occurred after a tragic case of sexual harassment reported at a Taipei McDonald’s, which led to a teen’s suicide. The case of sexual harassment and labor exploitation of a 17-year-old girl by her manager has forced the company into the center of a complex public dispute.
McDonald's has been criticized for its treatment of the girl and her family. Although the manager involved in the incident was fired in May, many assert the company failed to adequately support the victim and sought to shirk responsibility to avoid a lengthy investigation and legal battles.
After the case gained nationwide attention in December, McDonald’s issued a public statement expressing regret over the incident and a pledge to do better. However, this did not quell public anger and prompted further discussion about corporate social responsibility.
The boys at Chien Kuo High School, and others at prestigious schools in Tainan, Taichung, and Hsinchu, sensed public backlash directed at McDonald’s and sought to express their support for the restaurant amid the controversy.
However, many people have said the boys’ posts supporting McDonald’s represent a display of sexism and a lack of moral values, per UDN. Some netizens also threatened to report the students to their future university admissions office due to their online activity, reported Now News.
Following the incident, Chien Kuo High issued a statement on Saturday apologizing for the students' behavior and pledging to counsel those involved on respect and social responsibility. While many commentators said the students' actions were immature and reprehensible, some went as far as to threaten them with violence.
In the school's Sunday announcement, it said that security would be heightened at the school over the coming week. The campus will be closed to the public temporarily to ensure students' safety.
The school condemned the threats against students and asked the public not to harass, abuse, or attack members of the student body. The school also said it will collect evidence for a potential lawsuit and report threatening communications to authorities.
