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  • Ronald McDonald Gets a New, Hip Look

    Ronald McDonald Gets a New, Hip Look

    McDonald’s fast food restaurant chain unveiled a revamped, more modern rendering of their primary clown-mascot Ronald McDonald, and explained that the character will be “setting out on a global mission to rally the public through inspiring events.”

    The new Ronald now sports cargo pants, a sort of outdoors/adventure-inspired technical vest with many zippers, and a rugby shirt. The new gear is intended to help pull Ronald out of his fantasy realm of McDonaldland and into the domain of social media.

    While the new Ronald doesn’t yet have his own Twitter account, McDonald’s will promote the hashtag #RonaldMcDonald, for the time being. McDonald’s spokesperson Becca Hary commented that the company “felt it was time to evolve his look for his debut into social media.”

    Ronald McDonald, “the Hamburger-Happy Clown” was invented by former Today host Willard Scott in 1959, though McDonald’s doesn’t acknowledge the media personality’s involvement in creating the mascot. Along with his friends Mayor McCheese, the Hamburglar, Grimace, Birdie the Early Bird and The Fry Kids, Ronald McDonald has gained worldwide recognition. In Japan, Ronald is called Donald McDonald due to a lack of a clear “r” sound in Japanese, and there are also “sexy” male and female versions of the clown in that country.

    At any given time, McDonald’s employs hundreds of full-time actors to portray the burger-happy clown, to make appearances in franchise locations, Ronald McDonald Houses and various events. Ronald McDonald mimes have been known to go off the rails here and there, adding to a global collective perception that clowns are unnerving.

    Here is a series of Japanese McDonald’s commercials featuring Ronald:

    Aside from the new tech-vest, Ronald can also don a jacket and bowtie for select appearances:

    McRib enthusiasts are torn over Ronald’s new look:

    Regarding Ronald’s makeover and hashtag launch, Hary commented, “We’ve been pleased with the reaction Ronald has received in the media with his new debut. He’s an important part of pop culture and enjoys being part of the conversation.”

    Image via YouTube

  • Ronald McDonald Arrested in McDonalds, and Naked

    Ronald McDonald Arrested in McDonalds, and Naked

    Back when McDonald’s came up with the idea of a clown mascot named Ronald McDonald, they probably never imagined any confusion would ever result. Over the years, the name became so synonymous with the mascot that few people with the surname “McDonald” dared call their children “Ronald”. Who wants to see their kid bullied all the way through school?

    Apparently a few people. And some of those kids end up growing up and getting into trouble. With a name like Ronald McDonald, who can fault them much?

    Taco Bell has recently made retail food hay with the name Ronald McDonald. When the fast-food taco chain started serving breakfast, they took the fight straight to the Golden Arches, launching commercials that featured real-life folks named Ronald McDonald to endorse their breakfast fare. Clever move.

    We presume that none of those folks had arrest records. But some Ronald McDonalds do.

    One was this fellow, Ronald McDonald II, who was arrested at a Hampton Inn in Trenton for disorderly conduct. He was totally naked when police arrested him.

    Another Ronald McDonald, this one in Washington, DC was arrested on a bench warrant over an unlawful entry charge. The local Fox affiliate reported that, “No mugshot was available of McDonald – but we suspect he wore a grimace.”

    But perhaps the best Ronald McDonald arrest tale came about when a man was arrested for violating a restraining order — in a McDonald’s restaurant.

    The 50-year-old Englishman entered the restaurant following his wife, who had taken out a restraining order against him weeks prior. Police were called and the man was arrested.

    Recently, a group of disgruntled McDonald’s employees and former employees held a mock “arrest” of a man in a Ronald McDonald costume, “charging” him with wage theft.

    The employees had filed lawsuits alleging that McDonald’s managers were forcing employees to clock out during slow periods at the restaurant, but demanding that they stay on the premises and in uniform, ready to clock back in when customer flow picked back up.

    McDonald’s has recently given Ronald a makeover. Maybe the new outfit will look better in mugshots.

    Image via YouTube

  • Ronald McDonald Isn’t Going Anywhere, Gets New Look

    Ronald McDonald Isn’t Going Anywhere, Gets New Look

    “Ronald McDonald is an ambassador for good. Ronald McDonald isn’t going anywhere.”

    In 2011 then-CEO of McDonald’s Jim Skinner was very clear when he told critics that the mascot, first introduced in 1963, was not retiring any time soon.

    Now in 2014, Ronald is taking on a new face. Or rather, a new wardrobe.

    Sporting a new red blazer with the Golden Arches logo on the front pocket (and Ronald’s stylized signature on the back), yellow cargo pants, a vest with a red-and-white striped rugby shirt, and a bow tie as well, there is no need for the oversized shoes anymore. Ronald is stylin’! In fact, his get-up was created by Broadway designer Ann Hould-Ward, designer of the Beauty and the Beast costumes which earned her a 1994 Tony Award.

    But it isn’t just Ronald’s clothes that are creating new attention for the iconic fast food character. He is also beginning to appear more on social media such as Twitter using #RonaldMcDonald to promote his mission statement: “fun makes great things happen.”

    However, not everyone on Twitter is responding well to the “new” Ronald.

    McDonald’s definitely needs the “new.” On Tuesday the company said its profit tanked 5% in the first quarter and sales at stores open at least a year in the U.S. slid 1.7%. Shares closed flat on Wednesday at 99.13.

    Ronald “Revamped” will begin appearing on more of the store’s graphics, decor, and on television ads in the next few years.

    “Customers today want to engage with brands in different ways, and Ronald will continue to evolve to be modern and relevant,” said McDonald’s senior vice president Dean Barrett.

    But brand consultant Kate Newlin says that the move feels forced. “As a strategy, it feels a little desperate” and that it’s as if the new Ronald is shouting, “Please remember you once loved me.”

    This isn’t the first time Ronald has gotten a makeover, though. He was last redesigned in 2005, although it wasn’t as drastic as this.

    What do you think of Ronald’s new look? Are you lovin’ it? Does it actually make you want to step back into a McDonald’s and order some piping hot (or cold, depending how lucky you are) french fries?

    Image via YouTube

  • Ronald McDonald Officially A Hipster

    Ronald McDonald Officially A Hipster

    Ronald McDonald is changing his style. He got rid of the goofy ass yellow jumpsuit and got a tailored, well-fitting “whimsical new red blazer” blessed with embroideries, paired with some skinny, cheese colored hipster pants that ride up the crotch seam; swag.

    Through his company’s account, Mr. McDonald is increasing his presence through social media channels around the world. The corporate clown is seeking to engage consumers through the use of the #RonaldMcDonald hashtag on Twitter.

    Ronny is on a mission, with a statement via Twitter:  “Fun makes great things happen” – essentially, that having fun will create a domino effect that will lead to acts of goodness; just be sure to use the hash tag when you capture those moments.

    Ronald McDonald wants you to share the fun*:

    * = “Fun” does not include the following: Sex, drugs, bestiality, murder, torture, rap music, bullying, suicide, racism, sexism, ammonium hydroxide, self-mutilation, eating at Burger King®.

    “Ronald brings to life the fun of our brand by connecting with customers around the world, whether he’s promoting literacy or spreading cheer at a Ronald McDonald House,” said Dean Barrett, Senior Vice President, Global Relationship Officer.

    “Customers today want to engage with brands in different ways and Ronald will continue to evolve to be modern and relevant.”

    In addition to his hip attire, Ronald will occasionally sport a vest; he kept his red-and-whte striped rugby shirt and big red shoes.

    Where one would find Ronald McDonald here in US to be the painted up face of corporatism disguised as a friendly clown, in Japan, he is a demon like no other:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=niFCK-Pl3Vc

    Translation: “He’s always there. McDonalds.”

    Image via YouTube           

  • Ronald McDonald Gets New Look For Social Media

    Ronald McDonald Gets New Look For Social Media

    The image of Ronald McDonald is iconic throughout the world. The McDonald’s mascot has been selling happy meals in nearly every country in the world for decades. Now, with the internet bringing companies closer than ever to consumers, Ronald McDonald is receiving a significant makeover and hopping into social media.

    McDonald’s this week officially unveiled the new image of Ronald McDonald, showing off the clown’s new look. The company’s “brand ambassador” had shed his baggy jumpsuit for a more modern-looking red blazer over a red-and-white striped rugby shirt. The clown also now wears a (normal-sized) bowtie. His pants have remained yellow and big red shoes are still a part of the costume.

    A video released this week by McDonald’s shows off Ronald’s transformation over the course of one photo shoot:

    “It’s wonderful to see what Ronald means to people around the world,” said Marlena Peleo-Lazar, chief creative officer at McDonald’s USA. “We couldn’t be more excited to give him a new look and send him off to visit his fans everywhere.”

    In addition to the makeover, Ronald will become part of McDonald’s social media marketing. McDonald’s is touting the clown’s transformation through the Twitter hashtag #RonaldMcDonald. Unsurprisingly, people have been using Twitter instead to make fun of the announcement and project their fear of clowns:

    The Ronald makeover comes just weeks after Taco Bell launched a new ad campaign aimed directly at McDonald’s. The ad has several real men (that aren’t clowns) named Ronald McDonald praising Taco Bell’s new breakfast menu.

    Image via McDonald’s

  • Taco Bell’s Own Ronald McDonalds Appear In Ad

    When you think of the name Ronald McDonald, one restaurant comes to mind and it probably isn’t taco bell. Taco Bell is now serving breakfast and that means they are competing with other restaurants that do the same, including McDonalds and Burger King.

    On Thursday, Taco Bell released their newest breakfast commercial which shows everyday people enjoying Taco Bell breakfast items. Oddly, all of these people are named Ronald McDonald. The ad was designed to remind viewers that even though McDonalds is the current most popular fast food restaurant that sells breakfast, Taco Bell plans to take over.

    If Taco Bell can get all of the Ronald McDonalds of the world to love their breakfast items, than everyone else should love them too.
    Taco Bell is hoping their breakfast menu will boost sales and over 6,000 Taco Bell restaurants in the United States opened at 7 a.m. on Thursday to start selling their new breakfast foods. Taco Bell is hoping that their breakfast items will become as popular as those served by McDonalds and other fast food restaurants that have been in the breakfast game much longer.

    Taco Bell may have a ways to go to catch up to McDonalds. Breakfast items make up 20% of McDonalds sales and when Taco Bell tested their breakfast menu several months ago, the breakfast foods only made up about 4% of the sales. The Taco Bells figures were not based on national marketing, and the breakfast is expected to do much better now that it has been released at so many restaurants.

    Taco Bell’s ad agency, Deutsch LA, found around 400 men and women with the name Ronald McDonald, Ronnie McDonald or some variation, Taco Bell president Brian Niccol said. The company did pay the real-life Ronald McDonalds for their appearances but claims that their reactions to the breakfast foods were real and sincere.

    Have you tried any items from the Taco Bell breakfast menu yet?

    Image via YouTube