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TikTok users are stirring up a new trend, adding a bizarre, somewhat dark twist to McDonald’s latest berry-flavored beverage, the Grimace Shake.
Named after the fast-food chain’s purple character, Grimace, the trend has TikTokers pretending to pass out in a purple puddle after consuming the drink.
The Birth of Grimace Shake Trend
McDonald’s introduced the Grimace Shake on June 12, a purple, berry-infused concoction created to honor Grimace’s birthday.
According to the company, the shake draws inspiration from Grimace’s “iconic color and sweetness.”
While some consumers enjoy the beverage, attempting to identify the unique flavor profile, others have launched a TikTok trend that gives the sugary treat a less-than-sweet reputation.
On June 24, TikToker @ruiz_alv04 posted a video using the hashtag #grimaceshake, joining hundreds of similar videos that boast over 400 million combined views.
The video, which has garnered more than 8.2 million views itself, depicts a kid getting more than he bargained for after trying a Grimace Shake.
The Purple Panic Unfolds
The video commences with a teenager in the passenger seat of a car sipping the Grimace Shake. However, the situation escalates quickly as the child appears to go berserk after consumption.
The scene then transitions to a staged crime scene, with the Grimace Shake spilled everywhere, and the child lying unconscious on the sidewalk in broad daylight.
Other videos in the Grimace Shake trend, like those posted by @wheresxander, follow a similar format.
TikTokers are filmed innocently sampling the beverage before switching to a dramatic scene, featuring the participants surrounded by spilled purple shake, mimicking a scene from “The Exorcist.”
Viral Variations of the Trend
TikTok user @_loganross leveraged the backdrop of a stone wall to amplify the terror in their viral take on the trend.
Another user, @crystaldragons7, scored millions of views with a video capturing the essence of a fun night out turned found-footage-horror.
One of the more dramatic versions was by @guaquamolininjabenis.
In his viral video, he samples the Grimace Shake under a car’s headlights in the middle of the night, before the scene transitions to a horror-movie-style sequence in an abandoned building.
The climax of the video features him lying unconscious with a purple handprint on his chest.
Public Reaction and the Grimace Connection
Responses to this oddball trend range from amusement to confusion, with plenty of puns along the way.
While some commenters admitted to finding the trend hilarious despite not fully understanding it, others relished the chance to embrace the ‘unhinged’ nature of the Grimace Shake trend.
Interestingly, the trend somewhat reflects the backstory of Grimace himself. Initially introduced by McDonald’s in 1971, Grimace started as a “scaly, mean-looking” character with “four arms” and “no charm whatsoever,” according to the chain’s former vice president of advertising.
As such, the TikTok trend could be viewed as a tribute to Grimace’s original villainous persona. As of now, McDonald’s — and Grimace — have not commented on the trend.
