What did the McDonald’s Minion toy just say?
A number of parents have raised concerns that the Minion toys given out with Happy Meals appear to be swearing, prompting the fast food chain to respond and ease their minds. The toys are given to coincide with the third movie in the Despicable Me series, this one focusing entirely on the yellow and badly behaved sidekicks known as Minions.
The toys are meant to speak in the mostly gibberish language spoken by the Minions, but some parents instead heard swear words, Fox 8 noted.
Many of them raised complaints online, saying that one of the phrases sounds like a Minion saying “What the f***.”
“It turned out to be a toy that decided to talk profanity,” said grandparent Bradley Merten in an interview with WFTV . “I can’t believe it’s coming out of a toy.”
Merten said he was worried that his granddaughter could pick up the phrase.
“(They should) check their toys before they hand them over,” Merten said.
Merten is not the only one to complain. Other parents have raised concerns that their Minion toys are swearing.
McDonald’s says that’s not the case.
“Minions speak ‘Minionese,’ which is a random combination of many languages and nonsense words and sounds. We’re aware of a very small number of customers who have been in touch regarding this toy, and we apologize for any confusion or offense to those who may have interpreted the sounds as anything other than gibberish. The allegation that this toy is saying any offensive phrase is not true. Any perceived similarities to actual English words are purely coincidental.”
The allegedly swearing Minion is a bit of bad press on the eve of what is supposed to be a big-earning addition to the franchise.
From Cinema Blend , “According to Deadline , Minions , the spinoff of the Despicable Me franchise , is revving up for a big opening weekend at the box office. The film already debuted overseas in 26 markets, including Spain, Germany, Brazil and Indonesia. Since then, it has banked more than $125 million at the international box office and ranked no. 1 in 15 of the markets. There’s nothing stopping the minions from having the same success in the U.S. when their film debuts on July 10.”
Not all parents who have McDonald’s Minion toys are at risk of the alleged swearing. There are several different Minions given as part of the Happy Meal promotion, and the swearing reportedly came from the caveman styled toy.
[Photo by Universal Pictures/ Minion Movie ]