Despite the fresh, new, hipster look that Ronald McDonald unveiled last month–he’s still a creepy-ass clown. There’s really no getting around that. Has there every been a time when Ronald McDonald didn’t give off a probable-sex-dungeon vibe?
Well, move over Ronald. Happy’s here to take most of the attention away. McDonald’s recently unveiled their new Happy Meals mascot Happy, and it’s one of the more terrifying things a fast food chain has ever come up with, just behind KFC’s Double Down and Burger King’s commercials about The King watching you sleep.
Say hello to our newest friend, Happy! http://t.co/CuR3hU8Chj #HappyMeal pic.twitter.com/xgluLaHfcY
— McDonald's (@McDonalds) May 19, 2014
And now, a smattering of replies from astonished Twitter users…
What the fuck is that creature?
THE FUCK IS THIS SHIT
Why is he in pain?
Oh FUCK no…
What the fuck…
I didn’t want to sleep tonight, that’s cool
Hey McDonald’s, is that Gary Busey?
Goodbye…
Yikes. That ain’t good.
According to McDonald’s, that creature is the new “ambassador for balanced and wholesome eating.” Officialy hitting Happy Meals everywhere on May 23rd, whatever the hell that thing is “will encourage kids to enjoy fruits, vegetables, low-fat dairy and wholesome beverages such as water or juice.”
Here’s the craziest thing about this: Happy has been around for half a decade. It’s been used in France since 2009, and spread across Europe and Latin America over the past few years. They’re just now introducing that thing in the States, meaning it has to have been at least remotely successful in other parts of the world.
The social media backlash to McDonald’s newest mascot is fierce, but I’m sure they can handle it. I mean, we’re talking about the company who had to get past the #McDStories and #Shamrocking fiascos.
Image via McDonald’s, Twitter