After decades of mystery, McDonald’s has confirmed what its beloved purple character, Grimace, really is. Fans were shocked to learn that Grimace is not a milkshake, an alien, or a nugget — he’s actually a giant taste bud.

The revelation came from McDonald’s manager Brian Bates in Canada, who shared during an interview: “He is an enormous taste bud, but a taste bud nonetheless.” His role, Bates added, is to show that McDonald’s food tastes good.

Grimace first appeared in 1971 as “Evil Grimace” with four arms and a scary look, stealing milkshakes. But children found him frightening, so the company gave him a softer, friendlier image. “He scared kids,” a former VP admitted, “so we made him a plush, lovable blob.”

Fans reacted with surprise when McDonald’s confirmed the truth during Grimace’s 2023 birthday celebration. One user joked, “Why is Grimace a taste bud and not a purple nugget?”

“He is a super chill guy now,” McDonald’s replied.