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# Backfired April Fool's Pranks
Mcdonald's Prank -- the McPickle Burger, Took an Unexpected Turn

By Kalin Ned | Published 2019-04-01 | Lifestyle
Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mcpickle-burger
References: [designtaxi](https://designtaxi.com/news/404083/McDonald-s-Tries-To-Pull-McPickle-Burger-Prank-But-It-Unexpectedly-Takes-Off/) & [instagram](https://www.instagram.com/p/Bvr3W-AjUWd/?utm_source=DesignTAXI&utm_medium=DesignTAXI&utm_term=DesignTAXI&utm_content=DesignTAXI&utm_campaign=DesignTAXI)

The McPickle burger was debuted on [McDonald's Australia's](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/feisty-mcspicy) social media accounts. The fast food restaurant wanted to cheekily poke fun at its consumers and spark some degree of disgust or confusion, however, the April Fool's prank completely backfired as people expressed genuine interest in the product. Users on [Instagram](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/tic-tac-and-del-taco) were quite enthusiastically commenting on the post and how they were "going to order 1,000" of the McPickle burger.

The image gained over 20,000 viewers. It marketed a tasty sesame bun layered with "[flavorsome pickles](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/jimmy-johns2)" and melted cheese, seasoned with ketchup sauce. Although the backfired prank did cause some disappointment and McDonald's Australia had to announce that "the menu item would not be added to its menu any time soon," the interest in the McPickle burger serves as a curious insight for future releases.

## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter)

- Score: 6.1/10
- Popularity: 76% | Activity: 99% | Freshness: 8%
- 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) > [Lifestyle](https://www.trendhunter.com/lifestyle) > [Food](https://www.trendhunter.com/food)

## Key Themes

### What's Driving This Trend

- **Social Media Pranks:** The unexpected success of the McPickle burger prank highlights an opportunity for businesses to create viral social media pranks that generate genuine interest and engagement.
- **Unconventional Food Combinations:** The interest in the McPickle burger demonstrates a market for unconventional and unexpected food combinations that could disrupt the fast food industry.
- **Consumer Curiosity Marketing:** The curiosity and enthusiasm shown by consumers for the McPickle burger prank suggests a trend of utilizing curiosity-based marketing strategies to capture consumer attention and create buzz.

### Who This Affects Most

- **Fast Food:** The unexpected interest in the McPickle burger prank presents an opportunity for fast food chains to experiment with unique and unconventional menu items to attract customers.
- **Social Media Marketing:** The success of the McPickle burger prank on social media highlights the potential of viral marketing campaigns to generate organic interest and engagement.
- **Food and Beverage:** The McPickle burger prank showcases a consumer desire for adventurous and unconventional food experiences, presenting opportunities for innovative food and beverage companies to create unique and surprising products.

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