Is McDonald’s Grimace’s Birthday shake really that bad, is the drink coming to Australia? TikTok meme explained!
In a surprising twist of events, McDonald’s recent launch, the Grimace’s Birthday Meal, has taken the internet by storm, specifically on TikTok. The meal, introduced to celebrate the lovable purple guy Grimace, consists of a Big Mac, medium fries, and the star of the show – a medium Grimace’s Birthday Shake.
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The shake is an interesting mix of vanilla and berry flavoring, matching Grimace’s iconic color and sweetness. However, it’s the peculiar hue of the drink that has caught TikTok users’ attention, sparking a trend where they pretend to pass out in random places after sipping the McDonald’s special purple drink.
The Grimace Birthday Meal boasts a hefty 1490 calories, and while one TikToker humorously remarked, “It looks like poison,” another likened its appearance to the result of putting Grimace in a blender.
Before we delve further into the trend, let’s take a look back at the history of our purple friend. Grimace, first introduced in 1971, was initially depicted as a four-armed villain who stole milkshakes. Over time, the character evolved into a more genteel persona, often starting sentences with “duh.” He was part of the McDonaldland advertising effort that also introduced Officer Big Mac and Mayor McCheese. Grimace is said to be a taste bud, as per an off-the-cuff comment by a McDonald’s manager. He embodies the idea that McDonald’s food tastes good, which gives an amusing twist to the ongoing TikTok trend involving his birthday shake.
History Lesson.
Now, let’s go down memory lane and delve into the history of McDonald’s. Founded in 1940 by the McDonald brothers, the fast-food chain has since grown to be the world’s largest restaurant chain by revenue. The brothers opened their first restaurant in San Bernardino, California, and initially, they served customers through a carhop drive-in system with a menu centered around barbecue. They soon realized that most of their profits came from hamburgers, leading to a simplified menu.
In 1952, the brothers decided to redesign their building for further efficiency improvements and a more eye-catching appearance. This new design featured red and white ceramic tile, stainless steel, brightly colored sheet metal, and glass, along with two 25-foot yellow sheet-metal arches trimmed in neon, famously known as the “Golden Arches.”
The McDonald’s brothers began seeking franchisees in late 1953, with their first franchise opening in Phoenix, Arizona, in May 1953. Their second franchise opened in Downey, California, in August 1953, which is the oldest surviving McDonald’s restaurant.
In 1954, Ray Kroc, a seller of milkshake machines, learned that the McDonald brothers were using eight of his machines at their San Bernardino restaurant. Intrigued, Kroc visited the restaurant and suggested that the brothers franchise their restaurants throughout the United States, kickstarting the global success story we know today.
Grimace Birthday Shake in Australia?
Back to the current day, the Grimace’s Birthday Meal and the TikTok trend it sparked reveal how pop culture and fast food continue to intertwine. And while Australian fans might be disappointed that the meal isn’t available down under, they can find solace in McDonald’s Australia’s release of a cake-flavored latte, perhaps a more fitting tribute to a birthday-themed drink.
In conclusion, whether you’re intrigued by the peculiar color of the Grimace shake or simply a fan of the iconic McDonald’s character, it’s clear that this purple sensation is more than just a passingfad. As the Grimace’s Birthday Meal continues to be the talk of TikTok, we can only wonder what unique and interesting creations McDonald’s will come up with next. Until then, happy sipping (and TikToking)!