[imagesource:tiktok]

Gen Zs might just be having fun with absurdist humour on the internet with the new TikTok trend, but I reckon they’re making more poignant commentary about culture and society than they realise.

In fact – and you’re welcome to fight me on this – I think this Grimace milkshake trend could be a way better addition to Black Mirror than the latest season.

So, what is this Grimace trend all about, you must be desperately wondering. In honour of its classic character Grimace’s 52nd birthday, McDonald’s has released a limited-time, special Grimace Shake, which is a berry-flavoured frozen delight “inspired by Grimace’s iconic colour and sweetness”, per HuffPost.

In classic TikTok fashion, people have taken the fast-food chain’s promotion and turned it into a completely different beast. Some call it an absurdist meme, others call it a horror show for the ages, while I am calling it the next best Black Mirror episode.

I mean, a sentient purple blob (with a disturbing origin story) that hangs out with a clown to sell fast food is already perfect nightmare fuel, but make that food turn people into purple-sludge-leaking zombies, and we have ourselves a terrifying commentary on consumer culture, extreme influencing, and brand loyalty sucking your soul.

All the #GrimaceShake videos follow a similar trajectory: you wish Grimace a happy birthday, you take a sip of the shake, and you start oozing purpleness and going crazy, either dying or going on a zombie-like rampage.

This is probably the best Grimace Shake tiktok pic.twitter.com/tEUpmah1ix

— Glowing Eyes Rep 🏳️‍🌈⊬ψ loves Kanthony🐝 (@loo_lurky) June 27, 2023

@jaci.paci The new Grimace drink is so yummy 😋 . . . #grimace #grimaceshake #mcdonalds ♬ original sound – Jaci

Grimace shake pic.twitter.com/HpWKDapH0K

— Your Scumbag Dad (@your_scumbagdad) June 27, 2023

This grimace shake trend is funny wtf pic.twitter.com/gUJoQ33Xte

— Jarhead (Jared) (@newjep1710) June 26, 2023

This is probably on my top 3 Grimace Shake tiktoks pic.twitter.com/YgTqXmcqHh

— Edward ඞ (@SneakySquid99) June 26, 2023

@crystaldragons7 Happy birthday grimace! 🥳 #grimace #mcdonalds #grimaceshake #grimacebirthday #happybirthdaygrimace ♬ original sound – Crystal

the grimace shake trend is getting so elaborate LMAO pic.twitter.com/DyDhhmOsU1

— doyan (@cometazur) June 27, 2023

Okay, you get the idea.

So a manager of a McDonald’s franchise in Canada revealed the origin story behind Grimace in 2021, and it’s uh, a bit weird.

“He is an enormous taste bud, but a taste bud nonetheless,” Brian Bate told CBC in an “unofficial” explanation, adding that the character was meant to show that the food tastes good.

This would have been way more interesting material for Black Mirror than the horror nonsense released in season six, let’s be honest.

Anyway, have fun sleeping tonight.

[source:huffpost]