A Duplicitous Clown
Today, McDonald’s boasts that Ronald McDonald is as recognizable as Santa Claus. The brand he helped create now exceeds $32 billion, making it the sixth most valuable brand in the world over Google, Apple and Disney.
But he is also spread more thin than ever (as you’ll see in the next section) and falling out of favor. In an effort to deflect criticisms raised by popular films like “Food Inc.” and “Supersize Me” and books like “The Omnivore’s Dilemma” the clown has been employed in a wide range of public relations gimmicks that double as a means of branding and marketing unhealthy food to children.
But how long can he keep up the hoax? After all, no one likes a duplicitous clown.