Grimace was originally called the “Evil Grimace.”
When Grimace first appeared in McDonald's advertising in 1971, the character was portrayed differently from the friendly purple mascot familiar today. Early descriptions presented Grimace as having multiple arms and taking customers' milkshakes, which made the character a comic antagonist rather than a simple companion.
McDonald's later changed the character's design and personality. Grimace became a large, purple, gentle figure associated with Ronald McDonald and the wider McDonaldland cast. The simplified character was easier for children to recognize and better suited to the warm, playful tone of family advertising.
This history explains why modern audiences may not recognize references to Grimace's original role. The character was not introduced in the final form seen in later commercials and toys. “Evil Grimace” is a historical description of the early version, not the permanent name of the mascot.