# Talk:Grimace Shake

The cited source in the first paragraph indicates that McDonald's says the flavor is berry. Are there specific links that say otherwise? LizardJr8 (talk) 22:52, 3 July 2023 (UTC)

No other links, but the best way I've heard to describe the flavor is mixed berry yogurt, so I'd say the label would be mixed berry. Wheelz on thebus (talk) 15:58, 11 July 2023 (UTC)
Thanks, there was an IP insisting it was "cake" flavor. LizardJr8 (talk) 23:09, 11 July 2023 (UTC)
Why would they say it's very there's no Berry that's purple so is there a purple guy named Barry but they messed up and put in and everybody is eating it and drinking it because  of the grimace Burger. 2603:8081:49F0:9980:24F9:A0E4:ED89:7E3E (talk) 16:06, 16 March 2024 (UTC)

Wikipedia policy, esp. WP:NOT prohibits articles that are promotional, advertising, PR, marketing, etc. This article is entirely about a single promotion and the accompanying PR, marketing, etc. One of likely well over a thousand McDonald's promotions. McDonald's coming out with promotions is entirely WP:Routine. All the sources cited in this article are puff pieces, that ultimately originated with McDonald's PR campaign. We also have rules about recent events WP:NOTNEWS. This article is entirely about recent events. The promotion just started in June and appears to be over now. Nobody will remember it in 2 weeks, 2 years, 10 years, or 20 years. 
Note that if an article does not pass the policy WP:NOT, then the guideline WP:Notability does not apply - it simply cannot "grant notability."
It's July 4, a national holiday, I have other things that need to be done today. I'll likely put this up for deletion soon, but I doubt it can be today or tomorrow.  If anybody disputes this reasoning, please put your objections here. But please do not continue reverting the tags I put on the page. Smallbones(smalltalk) 18:20, 4 July 2023 (UTC)

I appreciate your concern about promotional content on Wikipedia and I understand why you've rejected my DYK because it's too novel and a tad bit too promotional, but I think this article just barely passes notability because the many published reliable sources about the Grimace Shake and trend establish its notability.
Though there are indeed puff pieces about the Grimace Shake, many reliable sources like the NYT, CNN, and WaPo have published articles about the shake. It doesn't matter that McDonald's did a PR campaign because if many widely-read newspapers publishes about it, that alone establishes its notability. McDonald's is the biggest fast food chain after all
The unexpected Grimace Shake trend also furthered its notability and scope of coverage. Even more news articles were written about the shake when the trend on TikTok started. The articles were written independently from McDonalds (inductively, wouldn't it be too risky to have a campaign that stated "our mascot kills those who drink our drinks"?)
I found enough sources that are both reliable and also seem independent from McDonalds PR, given that they also covered the negative aspects of the shake. If the article happens to stay up, we can use those to balance out the promotional tone of the article:
[1]
[2]
[3]
[4]
There's also a AfD for the Shamrock Shake that resulted in keep from a while back that may interest you. Endoftalk 23:53, 5 July 2023 (UTC)
The problem here is  WP:ROUTINE and WP:PERSISTENCE. If RS are still writing about this shake in six months' time, then you would have a solid argument for notability. If this is just a brief burst of coverage that will die away after the limited-time run is over, then the subject doesn't merit an article. At the moment, we can't say one way or the other, so I would rather default to no article until we're sure the subject is notable. If the page is redirected to List of McDonald's products#Shakes as proposed, then it can easily be restored if it turns out to have lasting notability. Sojourner in the earth (talk) 13:22, 6 July 2023 (UTC)
Just to be clear why failing WP:NOT means that an article can't be notable:
from WP:Notability "This page in a nutshell: Wikipedia articles cover notable topics—those that have gained sufficiently significant attention by the world at large and over a period of time, and are not outside the scope of Wikipedia." The second bold part is linked in the original to WP:NOT, but that bolding is mine.
from the 3rd paragraph of WP:Notability:
"A topic is presumed to merit an article if:

It meets either the general notability guideline (GNG) below, or the criteria outlined in a subject-specific notability guideline (SNG) listed in the box on the right; and
It is not excluded under the What Wikipedia is not policy."
Hope this helps. Smallbones(smalltalk) 14:15, 6 July 2023 (UTC)

How about if we'd make an article regarding the Grimace Shake in popular culture, as the section could be merged to it and secondary sources exist? Is it notable enough? NotAGenious (talk) 10:00, 13 July 2023 (UTC)

German, Czech, and Portuguese Wikipedia deleted Grimace Shake! New Welaeonska (talk) 07:39, 22 July 2023 (UTC)

Created an portuguese version of the article, but not because of you :) Iyusi766 (talk) 04:27, 11 August 2023 (UTC)

{{subst:trim|1=
There needs to be a mention to the tiktok trend.

 Not done: it's not clear what changes you want to be made. Please mention the specific changes in a "change X to Y" format and provide a reliable source if appropriate. Cannolis (talk) 19:52, 24 July 2023 (UTC)

Sure its popular now but no one will remember it in 10 years Opok2021 (talk) 23:16, 23 August 2023 (UTC)

McDonald's suggested that people to donate to the
Kill the first 'to' 2001:4479:4701:A500:C07F:AF75:FF64:3DEB (talk) 19:59, 4 September 2023 (UTC)

Done, thanks for letting us know Arconning (talk) 12:03, 5 September 2023 (UTC)

Hi Arconning, I started to pick up the GA review but almost immediately noticed a lot of promotional content that would prevent passing it. Rather than failing it right now or walking away, I thought I would post the first few notes I started to write and hope they will help:

The character Grimace was first introduced in the McDonaldland media franchise in 1971 as "Evil Grimace". He steals milkshakes and is the "embodiment of a milkshake or a taste bud", according to McDonald's. This seems promotional. McDonaldland was found in court to be an unauthorized adaptation of H.R. Pufnstuf. The court case focused on Mayor McCheese, but "Evil Grimace" with his many arms was claimed to be a version of the bug-eyed Seymour Spider by the Krofts. The voice of Pufnstuf himself, Lennie Weinrib, played Grimace in the television commercials. This real-world connection seems more significant to "Grimace" as a character than McDonald's claiming a purple spider/blob is the "embodiment of a milkshake".
The exact date of his birthday is uncertain, He's a puppet monster? Isn't his birthday a promotional concept that includes merch, food, and an online video game? I don't understand how his birthday could be uncertain.
Grimace Birthday Meal, which consists of the shake, medium fries, and a choice of a Big Mac or 10-piece Chicken McNuggets. That's what they put on the restaurant to sell people food? This is an ad for the meal just short of including the price.
McDonald's suggested that people donate to the Ronald McDonald House Charities "in lieu of gifts" for Grimace. Very promotional. I'm sure there's a reason to link the charity from McDonald's main article, but I don't see a connection to this milk shake other than the promotion described in the article.
Guillaume Huin, the social media director for McDonald's, said the Grimace Shake trend was unexpected and described it as "brilliant creativity, unfiltered fun, peak absurdist gen z humor". However, at the time he felt that acknowledging the trend would be risky, as he felt that "the campaign was already wildly successful, both on a social and business standpoint, so why would we take the 'risk' to jump in?". Reliable sources tend to describe this as "unintended viral marketing". The article here seems to be praising the creativity and authenticity of what is largely marketing.
Controversies seems handled well.
As far as verifiability, the article matches the sources. It's just that a lot of these sources are promotional to varying degrees. I hope this helps, Rjjiii(talk) 06:54, 13 September 2023 (UTC)

 This article was the subject of a Wiki Education Foundation-supported course assignment, between 21 August 2023 and 1 December 2023. Further details are available on the course page. Student editor(s): Snokpok, Sillygoose179, Audmk1, As0825 (article contribs).
— Assignment last updated by 1namesake1 (talk) 18:46, 28 October 2023 (UTC)

I think we should turn this Grimace Shake article into just a 'Grimace' article, to discuss the mascot as a whole instead of just the drink. Cereally8 (talk) 02:02, 16 December 2023 (UTC)

This review is transcluded from Talk:Grimace Shake/GA2. The edit link for this section can be used to add comments to the review.
Reviewer: Begocc (talk · contribs) 11:22, 26 January 2024 (UTC)

Under the section Roll Out, the mention of the game company Krool Toys should be linked to their official Wiki page https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Krool_Toys Beeperboy (talk) 16:44, 21 March 2024 (UTC)

 Done thanks! NotAGenious (talk) 16:47, 21 March 2024 (UTC)
Will it be in any mcdonalds in America 2600:1700:D780:5880:693B:D2CC:4F9B:F095 (talk) 09:05, 14 June 2024 (UTC)

Grimace Shake is going to be introduce soon in all European McDonald's, after Norway introduced! 2A02:2F04:A105:1F00:1C09:5115:A52:ACBE (talk) 22:16, 23 December 2024 (UTC)

Yes!? will be here... 2A02:2F04:A105:1F00:B9ED:FF11:8101:9BF2 (talk) 19:27, 27 December 2024 (UTC)

Its on hong kong since june 9th 
source: https://www.marketing-interactive.com/mcdonald-s-hk-taps-eason-chan-to-promote-first-ever-loyalty-programme Tankeynotsuss (talk) 06:05, 13 June 2025 (UTC)

​Sources need to be included in-article, not just the edit summary. See this section of the Introduction for a guide on how to add a citation. fifteen thousand two hundred twenty four (talk) 06:28, 13 June 2025 (UTC)

I've observed that the Grimace Shake has returned in Serbia as of June 2025. McDonald's Serbia has released a new promotional video on their Facebook page, clearly showing the shake and stating 'Try the Grimace Shake nowwww' in Serbian. Grimace also sings the jingle at the end. This could be added to the 'Background' section of the article.Oh and here's the link to it https://www.facebook.com/reel/9926630420769282 Simona Ivanovic (talk) 15:31, 19 June 2025 (UTC)

I have seen the Grimace shake being sold in greece since early July at least Nikolas bras (talk) 03:37, 20 July 2025 (UTC)

Grimace Shake in Romania? Yes. 2A02:2F04:A210:5B00:1D33:6581:E3C8:A34E (talk) 07:29, 31 July 2025 (UTC)

I can't wait to see this! 2A02:2F04:A210:5B00:1D33:6581:E3C8:A34E (talk) 07:30, 31 July 2025 (UTC)
Oh yes! I'M VERY EXCITED! 2A02:2F04:A210:5B00:1D33:6581:E3C8:A34E (talk) 07:30, 31 July 2025 (UTC)
ALL GRIMACE SHAKE IN EVERY COUNTRY PERMANENTLY IN MCDONALD'S (INCLUDING EUROPE AND ASIA) 2A02:2F04:A203:1300:E50E:CCFA:C086:CFF4 (talk) 15:36, 19 August 2025 (UTC)