Grimace was originally presented as a milkshake thief in McDonald’s advertising.
When Grimace first appeared in 1971, the character had a more mischievous role than the friendly purple figure familiar to later audiences. Early advertisements portrayed Grimace as having multiple arms and taking milkshakes, giving the character a simple explanation for why drinks disappeared from the restaurant.
McDonald’s later redesigned Grimace as a softer, friendlier, single-bodied character. His personality shifted from a food-stealing antagonist to Ronald McDonald’s good-natured companion. That redesign is why many people remember Grimace differently from the way the character began.
Grimace is sometimes confused with the Hamburglar because both were linked to food-related mischief. The Hamburglar targeted hamburgers, while Grimace’s original advertising role focused specifically on milkshakes.