Which McDonald’s character was introduced in 1971 as a villain who stole milkshakes?

The Evil Grimace was introduced by McDonald’s in 1971 as a villain who stole milkshakes.

Grimace originally had a very different personality and appearance from the friendly purple character known today. Early advertising portrayed him as a troublemaker with four arms who could take multiple milkshakes at once.

McDonald’s later redesigned the character into a softer, friendlier figure. The revised Grimace became one of the central McDonaldland characters and was commonly shown alongside Ronald McDonald and other restaurant mascots.

Many people remember only the modern version and therefore assume Grimace was always friendly. The early villain identity is a distinct part of the character’s branding history, and “Evil Grimace” is the name associated with that original portrayal.