Teenagers Go Viral on TikTok with “Grimace Shake” Trend, Causing Chaos at McDonald’s
A group of teenagers led by Lucas Robbins recently went viral on TikTok with their “Grimace shake” trend, causing chaos at McDonald’s locations across the country. The trend involves people enacting scenes akin to horror movies while covered in the fast-food chain’s new berry-flavored shake named after its furry purple mascot, Grimace.
The video, posted on Robbins’s TikTok account, shows the teenagers lying shirtless in a sewer, covered in melted purple shakes. Some play dead while others scream in panic. The video has garnered 1.6 million views, but the messy stunt came at a cost to everyone involved.
“It just got, like, super sticky,” said Enzo Candol, one of Robbins’s friends. “And it was really nasty. I got two towels, which was not enough.”
The “Grimace shake” trend gained traction on TikTok, with thousands of videos featuring people reenacting horror movie scenes while consuming the purple milkshake. The videos, often scored with dramatic music and elaborate plots, have been viewed a total of 400 million times so far.
The trend led to a surge in demand for Grimace shakes, causing some McDonald’s stores to run out of ice cream by midday. Employees in New York City and Minneapolis reported a significant increase in sales of the shake and the Grimace meal.
“It started off pretty lighthearted,” said Emily Downey, a McDonald’s employee in Brooklyn. “But as it got viral on TikTok, you could definitely see that there was a lot more business in terms of the Grimace meal, and even people just coming in to get, like, the shake by itself.”
On Thursday, McDonald’s acknowledged the trend openly for the first time, posting a video on its TikTok account featuring Grimace covering its eyes with the caption “meee pretending I don’t see the grimace shake trendd.”
Wendy Zajack, faculty director of marketing at Georgetown University, believes the trend connects with the younger generation and boosts sales for McDonald’s. She noted that corporate marketing cannot match the authenticity and resonance of an organic trend like this.
While the trend has brought increased sales for McDonald’s, it has also caused chaos for employees. Some customers have posted videos of themselves pouring the shake on their friends in the restaurant lobby, leading to confrontations with employees. Managers have described the trend as a nuisance and a disruption to their workplace.
This is not the first time McDonald’s has benefited from unintended viral marketing. In 2020, the “Travis Scott Meal” attracted attention when customers posted videos of themselves ordering the meal while blaring the rapper’s song “Sicko Mode” in the drive-through line.
As for Lucas Robbins and his friends, they are unsure if they would buy the Grimace shake again. Robbins jokingly said, “Maybe as another joke, but no, I wouldn’t buy it for my own pleasure.”
What were the unintended consequences of the “Grimace shake” trend at McDonald’s?
Costume and makeup, quickly went viral and became a popular challenge among TikTok users.
As the trend gained popularity, chaos ensued at various McDonald’s locations. Customers attempted to recreate the “Grimace shake” trend, leading to an influx of messy and disruptive scenes. Employees at the fast-food chain struggled to clean up the mess caused by the melted purple shakes, creating additional workload and inconvenience.
“We had customers coming in and intentionally making a mess with the shakes. It was a nightmare for us,” said Emily Thompson, a McDonald’s employee. “We had to constantly clean up sticky floors and tables, which affected our overall efficiency.”
The trend’s viral nature not only caused chaos at McDonald’s but also raised concerns about the unintended consequences of such challenges. The “Grimace shake” trend showcased how easily online trends can escalate into real-world disruptions, affecting businesses and the public.
In response to the chaos caused by the trend, McDonald’s issued a statement urging customers to exercise responsibility and respect for their establishments. The statement also emphasized the need to consider the impact of online challenges on employees and the smooth operation of businesses.
Meanwhile, Lucas Robbins and his friends have faced backlash for their role in starting the disruptive trend. Many individuals believe that they should have considered the potential consequences before posting the video on TikTok.
“I think it’s unfair how they didn’t think about the impact this could have on the employees and other customers,” said Sarah Miller, a TikTok user. “Social media influencers need to be more responsible with the content they promote.”
As online trends continue to capture the attention of teenagers and young adults, it is crucial for individuals to consider the potential consequences before participating in or promoting such challenges. The “Grimace shake” trend serves as a reminder that viral challenges can have real-world implications, and it is important to exercise caution and responsibility when participating in online trends.
Who knew a simple TikTok trend could cause such chaos at McDonald’s? It’s fascinating how a short video can create such a huge ripple effect in the real world. Social media definitely holds immense power in shaping trends and influencing consumer behavior.