# Cultural Mullet Campaigns Mcdonald’s McMullet Campaign Turns a Viral Joke into a Live Activation By Amy Duong | Published 2026-04-28 | Marketing Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mcmullet References: [linkedin](https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7452811640917458944/)  The [McDonald’s McMullet](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/street-fighter-menu) campaign introduces a modified cheeseburger with an extra slice of cheese placed at the back to mimic the mullet hairstyle. The idea originated online, where users began sharing versions of the “burger in front, party in the back” concept before [McDonald's New Zealand](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-sauce-stop) brought it into a real-world format. The activation took place on April 18 at a Penrose location in Auckland, where customers arriving with mullets received the themed burger for free. The campaign extended beyond the product with on-site barbers offering mullet haircuts to participants who wanted to join. It was developed with agencies including [McCann New Zealand](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/lotto-maxxing), FleishmanHillard Aotearoa, and OMD New Zealand, and supported by social media activity and influencer engagement. Additional elements included competitions, with one attendee awarded a year’s supply of cheeseburgers and ongoing haircuts. Image Credit: Gary Steele ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 7.9/10 - Popularity: 77% | Activity: 87% | Freshness: 72% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Marketing](https://www.trendhunter.com/marketing) ## Key Themes ### What's Driving This Trend - **Meme-to-menu Innovations:** Turning viral jokes into tangible limited-time products that amplify brand relevance and create earned-media moments. - **Experiential Retail Activations:** Physical events that merge product sampling with themed experiences to deepen customer engagement and measurable footfall. - **Microculture Influencer Collaborations:** Leveraging niche online communities and creators to co-create culturally specific offerings that unlock authentic audience resonance. ### Who This Affects Most - **Fast Food and Quick-service Restaurants:** Brands in this sector exhibiting rapid menu experimentation and localized activations that disrupt conventional product launch cycles. - **Retail Events and Pop-up Marketing:** Pop-up hospitality and retail models providing temporary, immersive touchpoints that challenge traditional storefront economics. - **Personal Care and Grooming Services:** Barbering and styling businesses integrating branded experiences with F&B partnerships to create hybrid revenue streams and novel customer journeys. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Branded Frozen Treat Games](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/blus-sundae-surprise-board-game.md) - [Youth Soccer Partnerships](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/timbits-soccer.md) - [Energetic Hot Sauce Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/summer-campaign1.md) - [Immersive Grid Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/confessions-ii.md) - [Covetable Membership Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/gold-days-of-grubhub.md) - [Animated Eye Health Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/best-eyes-for-life.md) - [Sun-Drenched Furniture Installations](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sun-tags.md) - [Athlete Food Sponsorships](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/think-turkey.md) - [Guaranteed Prize Dining Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/hot-head-burritos-cinco-de-montho.md)