McDonald's deletes viral post over controversial intern claim

On Sep. 6, McDonald's India's X account posted a thread in which an intern alleged the non-payment of salary for months. The individual claimed to manage several Asian accounts of the fast food giant but alleged that non-payment since December 2025 forced them to take up two additional jobs and trade meme coins. "I literally starve every day because I lose all my money on them [meme coins]." A meme coin is a cryptocurrency inspired by internet memes, viral trends, or pop culture. Unlike Bitcoin (BTC) or Ethereum (ETH), meme coins usually have no real-world utility. The value of meme coins like Dogecoin (DOGE) relies entirely on online hype, social media buzz, and community excitement. Though McDonald's India's X account deleted the thread within hours and called it "fake news," the post had already gone viral on the internet. reached out to McDonald's India for a comment on the controversy and did not receive a response by the time of publishing this report. We will update it as soon as we receive a comment. Related: Andrew Tate sends harsh message on crypto from Miami prison McDonald's and crypto There is a running joke within the crypto community that every market crash leads to a hiring surge at McDonald's. Those not loaded with money spend every penny to buy meme coins to get rich quick but end up losing everything if there is a crash, forcing them to take up a low-paying job at a McDonald's restaurant. There is no truth to the McDonald's hiring surge claim; it's nothing more than a grim joke popular within the crypto community. But it carries an important lesson: Investors should consult with a wealth manager before buying trending cryptocurrencies and diversify their portfolio instead of buying meme coins with all the money they have. Trending on TheStreet Roundtable: Elon Musk wants McDonald's to accept Dogecoin payments Tech tycoon Elon Musk has often proposed that he would eat a McDonald's Happy Meal live on television if the food chain accepted Dogecoin (DOGE) payments. Dogecoin was launched in December 2013 by software engineers Billy Markus and Jackson Palmer, who created it as a parody of the rapid proliferation of cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin at the time. Its name and mascot come from the "Doge" meme, built around a 2010 photograph of a Shiba Inu named Kabosu. Despite its origin as a joke, Dogecoin has built an active online community and has gained support from figures like Musk. Related: Elon Musk brings back his McDonald's Happy Meal offer This story was originally published by TheStreet on Sep 7, 2026, where it first appeared in the MARKETS section. Add TheStreet as a Preferred Source by clicking here. More News