McDonalds has unveiled a new mascot named “Happy” which has been around in France since quite some time now. However, to some people the new mascot reminds of the mimic monster from the Final Fantasy franchise and much more. The backlash doesn’t end there, American audience has turned to display of creepy humor on Twitter making it absolutely certain that ‘Happy’ makes them feel anything but happy.
On Monday, McDonalds revealed a new low-fat yoghurt side dish and Happy in the U.S., to promote healthy meals, which comes less than a month after the unenthusiastic reception to Ronald McDonald’s makeover.
From McDonald’s website:
“Happy is an animated McDonald’s Happy Meal box who was first introduced in 2009 to children and families in France. Happy has since made its way to Latin America and other countries in Europe and is now set to make a grand entrance in the U.S. Happy is about bringing more fun and excitement to kids’ meals, including eating wholesome food choices like low-fat yogurt.”
McDonalds spent millions of dollars on the happy meal ambassador that is a ‘happy meal with a face’ on it, to bring fun and excitement to kid’s meals. The happy meal ambassador will be introduced nationwide from May 23 and is expected to promote a balanced and wholesome meal.
McDonalds has always striked a cord in the mind of American audience for introducing scary mascots. Right from the nightmare inducing clown Ronald McDonald, the 1989 “Make It Mac Tonight’ crescent moon-man, the Evil Grimace character, and now the new big-toothed, bug-eyed mascot, the mascots have created nightmares for some of its consumers.
In the past, Ron Bergold, former Chief Creative officer at McDonalds had made a statement calling the milkshake stealing ‘Evil Grimace’ an accidental creation. “The original Grimace was scaly, mean-looking, had four arms, and had no charm whatsoever. He scared kids. We changed him to a soft, plush, two-armed blob of a sweetheart who only wanted McDonald’s milkshakes and to hang out with Ronald.”
McDonalds had road-tested the 2014 Happy Meal Ambassador ‘Happy’ in France in 2009 before unveiling it in the U.S. Julie Wenger, Senior Director of McDonalds U.S Marketing Unit said in the statement that “At McDonald’s, we’re always looking to bring fun and happiness to families.”
Just minutes after the new mascot was unveiled, social media reaction went swift, with two of the first four tweets even dropping F-bombs.
Take a look at a few infuriating and funny reactions from people on Twitter:
I thought that last episode of #Hannibal was the most horrific thing I’ve ever seen. That was before the new McDonald’s ‘mascot’.
— Michael Perry (@michaelrperry6) May 19, 2014
Pair that new McDonalds “Happy” mascot with the Pharrell song and you’ve got the stuff of true nightmares. pic.twitter.com/6Gawut9ijN
— Chris Welch (@chriswelch) May 19, 2014
I think the new mcdonalds mascot scares me more than the possibility of diabetes & obesity from their food #creepyAF pic.twitter.com/1EenNcyn6q
— Sean Whitney (@sh_whitney) May 20, 2014
. @McDonalds this looks like the monster that killed my uncle
— steev (@Naive_Steve) May 19, 2014
“that allows mothers to make an easier choice, rather than focus on nutritional implications of this choice” I hardly think fomula is an ‘eaiser choice’ than breastfeeding. Breastfeeding can basically be done anywhere anytime, without the need to sterilise bottles, carry bottles and formula, as it also far cheaper. For many women it is a heartbreaking reality. Not a choice at all. I have nerve damage to my breasts (due to having a reduction because of heavy breasts causing back/neck pain and migraines) and I more than likely will never be able to breastfeed. Should I let my future baby starve because ‘breast is best’? What about adoptive parents, while some are able to produce milk, that is a rarity. This article ignores the reality that while yes, breastMILK is best, for some, it simply is not possible for everyone! Also Plenty of women prefer to or need to express, so when you see a mother bottle feeding a baby, please don’t judge, because it may well be breastmilk in that bottle!
Kitty,
It is sad if people who bottle feed because they have to feel judged by other people. I am sorry you won’t be able to do it. Do you know that for a fact? And if so isn’t it amazing that it exists so much great choice of breast milk replacement products? Called formula in the UK. I try not to judge when I see bottle feeding but the reason people do is because the sad truth that women are getting told by media and even health visitors that breast isn’t enough. They are getting told that breast is best but for the hungrier baby formula is needed. British women also seem paranoid about the weight of their breast fed babies because NHS has got a weight scale that every baby is suppose to follow (otherwise something is wrong). I was laughing when I met the health visitor with my very big breast fed baby who one month just didn’t seem to have grown that much. He probably just had a little pause in growing as he growth spurt previous month. The health visitor started to worry and asked me about feeding and even indicated the breast milk wasn’t enough and that I needed to come back in two weeks. I told her to stop worry and stop making people paranoid. Also I went to wedding recently in Italy where I brought my 10 month breast fed baby. It was four other couples there who had left there babies between 6 and 10 months at home in UK. Obviously not breast fed. I start to feel like a rarity here in UK for still breast feeding even though WHO says 2 years minimum. I was asked by a couple who has got a son the same age as mine to come to their birthday party weekend away but without the baby? I feel like I am weird not being able to leave my baby for the weekend. I just feel that he needs the comfort of the breast and it is getting even more important the more his emotions develop that I can give him that comfort. Also I noticed he could chew food from 6 or 7 months but the bottle fed babies seem to be very late with chewing as they get hardened in their mouth by the bottle and they seem to more dangerous to them to eat bits of food as it could get stuck in their throat. I just think we could give our babies enough attention at least the first years. They will grow up and become independent later in life anyway. There is no hurry to make them independent before they are ready. What they mean with “easier choice” is probably that you can gain your freedom easier with formula as you can go away for a holiday or go to work without having to feed all the time. For many people it is not possible to continue to breast feed because they have to work. That is the sad reality of a hard British society with too short maternity leave.
babynes could also face some legal issues. did they copied the idea? … again??
Now I know who the brainy one is, I’ll keep lkooing for your posts.