10. Ronald McDonald ( McDonald’s)
Despite being the face of the world’s most successful fast food chain, Ronald McDonald has been known to strike fear into the hearts of some customers.
With his chalk-white face, flaming red hair, and vibrant costume, the character can be eerie to those not used to clowns, tapping into a well-known phobia.
9. The King ( Burger King
The King, as he is known at present, is the face of Burger King. His oversized head and expressionless face mask, combined with his penchant for appearing in unexpected places, have often unsettled viewers.
The King’s uncanny huge head, seeming almost, but not quite, human, is truly disturbing for some.
8. The Noid (Domino’s Pizza)
This red-suited, rabbit-eared creature was the mascot for Domino’s Pizza in the 1980s. His manic energy and bizarre appearance were off-putting for many. His mission to ruin pizza deliveries added an extra layer of menace to the character.
7. Colonel Sanders (KFC)
This might be controversial, but there is something slightly uncanny about the late Colonel Sanders’ likeness being used to sell fried chicken. This, combined with the countless impersonators throughout the years, has given the KFC founder a slightly unsettling aura.
6. Mac Tonight (McDonald’s
Introduced in the late 80s to promote McDonald’s extended hours, Mac Tonight had a crescent moon head, wore sunglasses at night, and sang in a lounge style. The juxtaposition of his cool demeanor with his non-human appearance was eerie to some viewers.
5. Chuck E. Cheese (Chuck E. Cheese’s)
Chuck E. Cheese is a fun-loving rat who loves pizza and games, but there’s no denying that he can be a little creepy. His large, staring eyes and anthropomorphic appearance might seem a bit off-putting, especially to those who harbor fears of rodents.
4. The Hamburglar (McDonald’s)
The Hamburglar was another odd choice for a mascot from McDonald’s. His small stature and unsettling dead-eyed gaze was on par with the Leprechaun’s terrifying get-up.
He’s also a petty criminal whose sole mission is to steal hamburgers, and his black-and-white-striped outfit and wide-eyed mask make him look like a caricature of a classic burglar.
3. The Grimace (McDonald’s)
McDonald’s really does seem to have cornered the market on unnerving mascots. Grimace, a giant purple blob-like creature, has an uncertain origin and purpose that only adds to his unsettling appearance.
2. Jack (Jack in the box)
Jack Box, with his large spherical head and pointed nose, can seem quite sinister to some. He looks like a normal businessman, except for his decidedly not-human face, which has a static grin that barely leaves, adding to the eeriness.
1. Mayor McCheese (McDonald’s)
What could be more sinister than Mayor McCheese and his giant cheeseburger head with a tiny top hat precariously balancing on it?
He was originally introduced as they mayor of McDonaldland sometime in the 70’s, and didn’t do much else than bobble around, shaking hands. Not much different from the act of a real politician.
His eyes pop out in an excited fashion, and he has a wide, gaping mouth with cheese for a tounge that is meant to be cheerful but instead strikes a discordant note with some viewers.
While fast food mascots are designed to be memorable and appealing, they can sometimes cross over into being pure nightmare fuel. And that’s exactly what we see here with the aforementioned mascots…and precisely why, as children, we used to sleep with one eye closed.
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