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Who or what is Grimace?

In a 2021 interview with Canadian news outlet CBC, veteran franchise manager Brian Bates unofficially answered a question many fans of the Golden Arches may not have even known they had. What is Grimace?

it's always \"what is Grimace\" and never \"how is Grimace\"

— McDonald’s (@McDonalds) September 8, 2021

\"He is an enormous taste bud, but a taste bud nonetheless,\" Bates told CBC.

\"PHOTO:
Nick Laham/Getty Images, FILE
PHOTO: In this Dec. 15, 2000, file photo, race car driver Mark Skaife of Australia and Grimace of McDonalds appear at a charity event at the Tuggerah Lakes Golf Course, Tuggerah, Australia.
>

The \"outstanding manager of the year\" who was recognized by the company for his leadership throughout the challenge of the COVID-19 pandemic has worked at McDonald's for 10 years at seven locations.

\"PHOTO:
Eugene Gologursky/Getty Images for Macys, FILE
PHOTO: In this Nov. 24, 2020, file photo, Ronald McDonald and Grimace appear in the 94th Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York.
>

McDonald's previously claimed the friendly looking amorphous character was \"the embodiment of a milkshake\" in a 2012 tweet.

@janinegutierrez Grimace is the embodiment of a milkshake, though others still insist he's a taste bud. :)

— McDonald's Corporation (@McDonaldsCorp) May 7, 2012

\"Good Morning America\" did not received further insight or comment on the character's identity from McDonald's.

One representative clarified that the McDonaldland character has not been actively utilized by the brand in a few years.

An earlier version of this story was first published Sept. 7, 2021.

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