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By Jack Beresford
Senior Reporter
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A video of McDonald’s CEO Chris Kempczinski taking a bite out of a Big Arch burger is drawing unfavorable comparisons with a clip of Burger King President Tom Curtis chomping down on a newly revamped Whopper.
Kempczinski became a target for ridicule after sharing a clip of himself tasting the new McDonald’s burger to Instagram last month. "That was the smallest first bite I’ve ever seen," one commenter wrote on the clip, with another writing: "First time he's ever tried it. Terrible acting." A third stated: "Lmaooo [laughing my a** off] this man don’t even eat McDonald’s."
Kempczinski’s efforts are now drawing comparison with those of Curtis, who was featured enthusiastically chomping down on a Whopper during a TikTok video promoting the newly revamped burger.
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The TikTok clip went viral, racking up over 4.4 million views and earning instant comparisons to the McDonald’s clip. "This dude knows how to take a bite," one TikTok user commented. Another wrote: "He took a decent bite unlike the McDonald’s CEO," with a third writing: "this marketing is low-key genius…they didn't have to mention McDonald's and we all knew."
Despite the immediate comparisons to the McDonald’s clip, a Burger King spokesperson told Newsweek the timing of the video’s release was "simply a coincidence."
However, when asked if the spokesperson thought it was important for everyone at the top of Burger King to try their products, they said "absolutely"
"If we don’t genuinely enjoy and believe in our food, we can’t expect our guests to," the spokesperson said. "It’s important that our leadership not only understands the product, but truly likes it—that keeps us connected to the people we serve every day."
Coincidence or not, the Burger King clip has drawn direct comparisons with the McDonald’s one on social media, sending fast food fast into a frenzy as a result.
Alex Cohen, the co-founder of the health care AI assistant service Hello Patient, wrote on X: "Can't believe the Burger King CEO just burgermogged the McDonald's CEO with more aura than any corporate moid has ever had. bro is frame dominant with a Whopper. It's over for the golden arches."
Though his post may have been tongue-in-cheek, it echoed the sentiments on others on the platform. Fellow X user @DesireeAmerica4 shared a clip of Curtis’s Whopper-eating efforts, writing: "The Burger Wars just went nuclear. Burger King's President demolishes a burger and demands a napkin. A perfect clapback to McDonald’s CEO, who awkwardly nibbled his new Big Arch and stiffly called it a product. One man loves his food. The other looks like a hostage to his own menu."
Mikey V., the co-host of the Brilliantly Dumb Show podcast, also took to X, posting as @BeardownCuz, to applaud Curtis’s efforts. "The King saw his opening, and took it. Have to respect that," he wrote.
Elsewhere, @MattChiric0, shared a clip comparing the two big boss burger bites, writing: "where were you when the BK CEO bitemogged McD’s & the Big Arch?" Another user @KMNDR_, wrote: "Burger King CEO looks like an average guy off the street. McDonald's CEO looks like he was designed in a lab."
@FAFOtheFirst, meanwhile, shared the clip, writing: "You can tell the Burger King CEO and the McDonald's CEO are not the same. This guy loves his burgers."
Burger King even weighed into the debate on X, replying to one post: "Our Whoppers are fit for kings…and king-sized bites." In another, the company jokingly declared Kempczinski had been "bitemogged AND flavormaxxed."
A Burger King spokesperson said the staff have "loved seeing the reaction" to the video.
"The Whopper inspires strong opinions—including proper burger-holding technique—and we’re here for it. It’s been fun to watch people engage with such passion around a burger that means so much to our brand," the spokesperson said.
However, the video was "purely about our own moment" rather than any effort to draw comparison with McDonald’s. "We recently announced meaningful updates to the Whopper, and having Tom taste it firsthand felt like a natural way to mark that milestone."
Ultimately though, Burger King believes eating its burgers gives the staff a better insight and understanding of what the company does. "The Whopper is at the heart of Burger King—flame-grilled, bold and made your way," the spokesperson said. "Experiencing the product firsthand reinforces our commitment to quality and to delivering on what our Guests expect every day."
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