If you’ve been online recently, chances are you’ve come across the viral sensation surrounding McDonald’s new Grimace shake. Originally introduced to celebrate the iconic fast food mascot’s 52nd birthday, this berry-flavored shake has taken on a life of its own.
The vibrant purple beverage has become the subject of jokes, memes, and a series of increasingly wild TikTok videos. In these videos, people sip on the Grimace shake and then hilariously reenact horror movie-style death scenes. They playfully let the purple shake dribble out of their mouths, splattering it on the floor like blood or even making it ooze from their nostrils.
@thefrazmaz
R.I.P Grimace (and me) #mcdonalds #grimace #milkshake #grimaceshake #birthday #fakedeath #yummy
♬ Daylight – David Kushner
It’s gotten so dark, Grimace himself finally commented on it on June 27 via the McDonald’s Twitter account. “meee pretending i don’t see the grimace shake trendd,” he tweeted with a wide-eyed photo of himself as a child.
meee pretending i don’t see the grimace shake trendd pic.twitter.com/ZTcnLTESC8
— McDonald’s (@McDonalds) June 27, 2023
All this chaos revolves around the enigmatic character known as Grimace. For years, Grimace has remained a mysterious figure, with McDonald’s revealing only in 2021 that he is, in fact, an enormous taste bud. In old advertisements, Grimace was depicted as a mischievous shake thief.
@kameryn.paige
She grimaced out🙀#grimaceshake #grimacesbirthday
♬ The Attic – Colin Stetson
With such a secretive backstory, it’s no wonder social media users have created even more sinister tales around him. Some have accused the mascot of being a “Griminal,” kidnapping families, and having access to nuclear warheads.
@guaquamolininjabenis
He will be grim-missed #grimaceshake #mcdonalds #trending
♬ Grimacing Sounds – Jon & Eli
Despite these wild theories, the giant purple taste bud insists on his innocence. Grimace even joined the conversation on social media to comment on the TikTok trend.
@crystaldragons7
Happy birthday grimace! 🥳 #grimace #mcdonalds #grimaceshake #grimacebirthday #happybirthdaygrimace
♬ original sound – Crystal
Opinions among McDonald’s fans are divided—some love Grimace, while others fear him. For what it’s worth, we had the chance to meet Grimace in person at our office, and we can confirm that he is far too adorable to be a cold-blooded murderer. “He’s the only celebrity I’ve worked with who asked to take a picture with me. That’s really nice,” says our video producer Marc Stauble. “He’s always smiling and radiates really positive vibes.”
