Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Guardian - US
The Guardian - US
Business
Adam Gabbatt in New York

Are McDonald's Minions toys teaching children the F-word?

A scene from the film Minions
Imagine the filth being spewed in this scrum. Photograph: Illumination Entertainment/AP

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.”

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.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.