An Orlando realtor was incensed that an order of hash browns at McDonald’s costs $3 apiece — prompting him to make a viral TikTok video slamming the fast food chain.
Freddie Smith reacted to an online news story from CNN detailing customer anguish over the soaring prices of McDonald’s menu items.
“You know s–t’s messed up when McDonald’s is becoming a luxury in this country,” Smith said in the video, which has been viewed more than 3 million times.
“[In the article] they said that a hash brown — one of those breakfast hash browns – are $3 now,” Smith said.
“You used to be able to get two double cheeseburgers and a McChicken for $3!”
Smith demanded that others “start complaining” about the price hikes.
“How much does a McDouble have to be before you kinda go, ‘This is a little bit ridiculous’,” he said.
Smith said that the soaring prices of McDonald’s menu items are “examples of everyday necessities getting out of hand.”
“Well there’s gotta be some light at the end of the tunnel because if not, what are we truly living through,” he said.
The Post has sought comment from McDonald’s.
McDonald’s restaurants are independently owned by franchisees, so menu prices fluctuate depending on where the eatery is located.
Last summer, a McDonald’s location in affluent Darien, Conn. was charging a whopping $18 for a Big Mac combo meal.
Earlier this year, a McDonald’s franchise in Fairfield, Conn. was charging more than $7 for an Egg McMuffin and nearly $6 for a side of hash browns.
McDonald’s CEO Chris Kempczinski admitted last month that low-income customers are being priced out of his restaurants.
“Eating at home has become more affordable,” Kempczinski said. “The battleground is certainly with that low-income consumer.”
Earlier this week, X users were enraged after someone posted an image of a receipt from Five Guys showing that a bacon cheeseburger meal with french fries and soda cost almost $25.
“Five Guys prices are out of control,” the X user wrote. “$24 for one person.”
Fast food prices have touched a collective nerve as Americans in recent years have been weighed down by soaring rates of inflation.
Last week, Wendy’s was scrambling to save face after it insisted it had no plans to introduce surge pricing, which would make its menu items more expensive at peak eating times.
The burger chain clarified its stance on how it will approach pricing after media picked up on comments by CEO Kirk Tanner that the company would test features like dynamic pricing at restaurants.
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