An award-winning McDonald’s franchise manager in Canada is telling the world what it’s always wanted to know about the fast food chain’s Grimace.
In 2017, McDonald’s officials attempted to squelch debate on the subject by tweeting that the grinning, gelatinous purple blob was simply Ronald McDonald’s best friend, but speculation has persisted.
Enter Brian Bates, recently named Outstanding Manager of the Year for his exceptional leadership skills throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, an honor that placed him in the top 10% of managers working at more than 1,400 McDonald’s restaurants across Canada, CBC News reported.
Bates told the network that Grimace literally exists to show how good McDonald’s food tastes.
“(Grimace) is an enormous taste bud, but a taste bud nonetheless,” Bates said.
According to USA Today, this is not the first time Grimace’s true identity as a taste bud has been floated among social media users.
In a 2012 tweet, the corporate account for McDonald’s called Grimace “the embodiment of a milkshake, though others still insist he’s a taste bud” but shifted course slightly in 2017, sharing, “When Grimace first joined McDonaldland, he had four arms and stole everybody’s milk shakes. However, by 1974 he became the big, fuzzy purple fellow that everyone knows and loves today!”
@janinegutierrez Grimace is the embodiment of a milkshake, though others still insist he's a taste bud. :)
— McDonald's Corporation (@McDonaldsCorp) May 7, 2012
Social media users wasted no time reacting to Bates’ revelation.
My reaction when @LaraSpencer says on @GMA that @McDonalds Grimace is … a giant taste bud. 🤔 pic.twitter.com/Lp10EPmWSg
— Jason Wilde (@jasonjwilde) September 7, 2021
33 years old and i just found out that Grimace is actually an enormous taste bud.
— Arianne de Jesus (@arianndejesus) September 2, 2021
His feet are light and nimble. He never sleeps. He says that he will never die. He tastes in light and in shadow and he is a great favorite. He never sleeps, Grimace. He is tasting, tasting. He says that he will never die. pic.twitter.com/Y4IJQUGgOx
— fka ☕️ (@coopercooperco) September 1, 2021
Grimace is a taste bud? 😬🤔🤨😒 Not buying it, but I still 💜💜 you, Grimace. pic.twitter.com/fHsGXyOpBo
— Wendi Hays (@trafficbabe) September 7, 2021
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