A talking figurine sold with the restaurant’s Happy Meals appears to swear but McDonald’s says the toys are just speaking the fake language ‘Minionese’

This article is more than 5 years old

This article is more than 5 years old

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Parents have, apparently, been left outraged by a talking McDonald’s Happy Meal toy which they claim says: “What the fuck?”

Fox28 News, based in Columbus, Ohio, managed to find two separate fathers who believe the speaking figurine – from the new film Minions – has a foul mouth.

“I heard what it said and I’m like: “Whoa, hang on here,’” Taylor King told the news channel. “It clearly says what it says.”

Adam Gabbatt (@adamgabbatt) Is this McDonalds toy saying: "What the fuck"? https://t.co/mouZJiWLas

King said he was fearful that his three-year-old son could begin to mimic the toy.

“It’s coming from a toy. They’re going to assume it’s OK to say that.”

McDonald’s has refuted the suggestion that the toy is dropping F-bombs all over the place. The toy is actually speaking “Minionese”, the company said. McDonald’s said Minionese is not a real language.



The Guardian was able to procure the offending item from a local McDonald’s franchise. The Minion toy was included in a cheeseburger Happy Meal which also came with fries, a coffee and some apple slices.

Extensive testing proved inconclusive, but did succeed in annoying several members of the office.