This past September, McDonald’s announced a limited-edition combo meal with rapper and sometimes Fortnite performer Travis Scott consisting of a mind-bending bacon cheeseburger, Sprite, and some fries with a little BBQ sauce. Clearly, a veritable feast, which I’m sure no one has ever attempted to order before.
Leaning into their popstar team-ups, they quickly followed suit this month with a combo meal from Colombian reggaeton star J Balvin, and was absolutely, definitely not an attempt by McDonald’s to cover up for recent racial discrimination lawsuits. The signature meal consists of a Bug Mac, an Oreo McFlurry, and fries with—gasp—ketchup.
Similar to the Scott mash-up, McDonald’s will also release a line of limited-edition brand merch and apparel with the singer. The golden-arched swag features a palette of Balvin’s favorite colors with ballyhooed gear like Big Mac Slippers, a burger rug, blankets galore, golden arch glasses, swatches, hats, water bottles, definitely not camouflage camping chairs, and even a temporary tattoo of a receipt bearing the J Balvin order on it. Yes, everything is tacky as all get out, but the bold colors make up for the playful, vibrant collab.
The only downside? The price, because I don’t know a single soul willing to pay $180 bucks for a hoodie with a McDonald’s receipt on it during a recession (and, yes, it’s a recession).
“As a longtime McDonald’s fan, I am excited to join the short list of global icons who have had a meal named in their honor,” J and definitely not a PR person said in a press release marking the release of the combo meal. “I am looking forward to sharing my signature order with my fans, along with more surprises that are to come with this partnership. ¡Lego!”
You can find the merch collaboration from J Balvin and McDonald’s here, and I would certainly feel great anger and rage if anyone should buy me a pink and yellow fry blanket for Christmas.
