If you’ve been to McDonald’s recently, you might have noticed that they’re celebrating a birthday for a very odd, purple blob monster.
Well, it’s the Grimace’s 52nd birthday, and the fast food joint is honoring its longtime character with a special milkshake and a menu tailored to apparently what the Grimace enjoys eating.
“Our fans have amazing childhood memories of their birthdays at McDonald’s…and Grimace’s Birthday is all about paying homage to the amazing, fun moments we all share,” Tariq Hassan, Chief Marketing and Customer Experience Officer at McDonald’s USA, said in a press release. “We’re excited to put a modern spin on these memories to continue to drive McDonald’s relevance with a new generation. Grimace is the perfect lovable icon to have McDonald’s meet our fans at the intersection of nostalgia and culture.”
If you’re deeply confused as to what’s going on at McDonald’s right now, don’t be alarmed.
We’re here and happy to help you understand who Grimace is, why it’s important to celebrate his 52nd birthday and what on Earth is going on with that purple Grimace milkshake.
What is Grimace?
According to the McDonald’s Fandom page, Grimace is “a large, purple, rotund being of indeterminate species with short arms and legs. He is known for his slow-witted yet optimistic demeanor. Grimace sometimes goes for long periods of time without speaking; when he does speak he is known for saying ‘duh’ before every sentence.”
The McDonald’s official backstory for the Grimace indicates a richer history.
For those just realizing how little you actually know about your purple pal…Grimace is from Grimace Island and comes from a huge family (including his Grandma Winky, aunts Millie and Tillie and his Uncle O’Grimacey!) Our timeless bestie has become a fan-favorite known for his signature fuzzy purple look, friendly and playful personality, love for shakes, and of course – ambiguous nature. What exactly is Grimace? Perhaps we’ll never know…
Grimace looks like a McChicken Nugget that fell behind the fryer during the 1980s, turned purple due to years of toxic exposure to grease and sprouted arms and legs. He seems to have been taken in by Ronald McDonald, perhaps out of pity, and become one of his trusted sidekicks.
Unlike the Hamburglar, he doesn’t appear to have turned to a life of crime. However, underneath his unassuming exterior, perhaps he longs for one.
He is said to have been born in 1971, making June 12 his 52nd birthday.
Why is McDonald's celebrating the Grimace's birthday?
We’re not exactly sure why this is the year that McDonald’s is celebrating the Grimace’s birthday with a milkshake, but as Succession actor Brian Cox tells us, it seems like his birthday is annually a big deal.
Grimace seems to celebrate his birthday at McDonald’s every year, so perhaps the fast food chain decided to finally give him a reason not to be embarrassed that this is the best he can do for his birthday.
While it doesn’t seem like we’re all invited to his birthday party in an actual sense, McDonald’s has extended the invitation in spirit to honor Grimace for his 52nd year of existence.
What ... what is a Grimace milkshake?
The Grimace milkshake seems to be the fixture of celebrating Grimace’s birthday, as all McDonald’s patrons will receive one along with ordering the Grimace birthday meal (a 10-piece nugget or a Big Mac served with a medium-sized french fries).
The company says that the Grimace milkshake is made of “McDonald’s signature vanilla soft serve and berry flavors,” although we’re deeply unsure what berries they are referring to in this description.
How will it taste? That’ll have to be something you find out on your own, as partaking in the Grimace milkshake is a personal journey for each person.
Can I see a photo of the Grimace posing by his car with a Grimace milkshake?
Why, yes. Yes you can.
Has Grimace ever played golf with Australian race car driver Mark Skaife?
Why, yes, Grimace has played golf with Australian race car driver Mark Skaife.
In 2000, the Grimace joined Skaife at his charity golf tournament at Tuggerah Lakes Golf Course in Australia.
We’re not sure how well the Grimace did on the links, as his arms don’t really allow for much more than light putting.
