Whether the subject in question is Grimace or Evil Grimace, there’s one persistent, burning question on every McDonaldland fan’s mind: What, exactly, is Grimace supposed to be? As it turns out, even the company that he represents isn’t sure.

There are at least two theories regarding the truth about Evil Grimace’s nature. In a 2021 interview with CBC, Brian Bates, a manager of a McDonald’s franchise in Canada, shared his take: Grimace, evil or not, is  “an enormous taste bud, but a taste bud nonetheless.” Based on Bates’ response, it can be inferred that the purple character exists simply as a reminder that “the [McDonald’s] food tastes good.” On the other hand, a 2012 tweet from McDonald’s Corporation disputes this idea, calling the mascot “the embodiment of a milkshake” while acknowledging the existence (and implied inaccuracy) of the “Grimace is a taste bud” idea.

In recent times, however, the company seems to have taken a more ambiguous stand on the purple pilferer’s phylogeny, as evidenced in McDonald’s cryptic press release for Grimace’s 52nd birthday celebration: “Our timeless bestie has become a fan-favorite known for his signature fuzzy purple look, friendly and playful personality, love for shakes, and of course – ambiguous nature. What exactly is Grimace? Perhaps we’ll never know…”