Why McDonald's Quietly Got Rid Of Ronald McDonald

For a lot of people, going to McDonald's as a kid wasn’t just about the food. It was about the full experience especially seeing the famous clown, Ronald McDonald, who was once the face of the brand. But if you think about it, when was the last time you actually saw him?

There was a time when McDonald's was the go-to spot for birthday parties, and a big part of the fun was getting a picture with Ronald McDonald. Whether it was an actual employee dressed up in costume or just the classic statue sitting on a bench, Ronald was always there.

Of course, not everyone loved the red-haired mascot. Some kids thought he was fun, while others found him downright terrifying. But whether you liked him or not, there's no denying he was a big part of the brand.

Then, seemingly out of nowhere, Ronald McDonald vanished from McDonald's ads, marketing, and stores. Turns out, the company didn’t just phase him out for a rebrand - they pulled him due to a bizarre and unsettling social media trend.

Ronald McDonald used to be as synonymous with McDonald's as the Big Mac Lauren DeCicca/Getty Images

Back in 2016, a viral trend took over the internet, and it had everything to do with creepy clowns. People all over started dressing up in unsettling clown costumes and posting eerie pictures online. What started as an internet joke quickly escalated into something much darker.

Some individuals took it too far, wearing clown masks in public to deliberately scare people. Schools across the U.S. reported sightings of masked clowns lurking around, and in one extreme case, a family in Florida was attacked by a group of 20 people wearing clown masks.

Because of this, clowns once a symbol of fun and childhood entertainment became associated with fear and danger.

Ronnie has not been seen since 2016 Michael Hickey/Getty Images

Realizing that public opinion on clowns had shifted dramatically, McDonald's made the decision to step back from using Ronald McDonald. The company didn’t want to risk negative associations with the unsettling clown hysteria.

At the time, the company released a statement explaining the decision: "McDonald's and franchises in the local markets are mindful of the current climate around clown sightings in communities and as such are being thoughtful in respect to Ronald McDonald's participation in community events for the time being."

Ronald McDonald’s absence became permanent, and the character quietly faded from the company’s branding.

Sadly, the original actor who played Ronald McDonald, Willard Scott, passed away in 2021 at the age of 87.

Back in 1987, Scott reflected on his time playing the famous mascot and shared his thoughts on what made him love the role so much.

Speaking with the New York Times, he said: "I just love people. A lot of speakers on the talk circuit leave right afterward... I do a lot of shmoozing. I'm like a dog. You just open the door and I go, 'rrrr, rrrr,' and then I lick everybody's face."