Four men disguised as repairmen removed a Ronald McDonald statue from a Helsinki restaurant. McDonald’s received a “ransom demand”, broadcast on YouTube, asking them to answer several questions about the sourcing of their food and their ethical stance. McDonald’s refusal “to negotiate with terrorists” (McDonald’s spokeperson) resulted in Ronald’s execution by guillotine.
The ransoming of Ronald McDonald
Tues 1st Feb, 2011:
Several individuals dressed as repairmen steal a life-sized statue of Ronald McDonald from a McDonald’s restaurant in Helsinki.
Wed 2nd Feb, 2011:
McDonald’s headquarters all around the world receive an al-Qaeda style video in which five masked men announce Ronald’s kidnapping. They demand that McDonald’s answer eight questions about the ethics of their food production – or Ronald will be executed.
One week later:
The video has received almost a million hits on YouTube and the kidnapping has made the international news, including Fox News, Bill O´Reilly, CBS, France24, Channel 4, the Washington Post and the Hindustan Times, among many others. The FLA gives hundreds of masked interviews to radio and TV stations globally. Their website, www.freeronald.org, is full of fan messages. McDonald’s employees begin appearing in the media to talk about what they’ve witnessed behind the scenes.
Feb 9th, 2011:
Finnish evening news reports that a police raid has led to Ronald’s release and the subsequent arrest of artist, Jani Leinonen, at his studio in downtown Helsinki.
Feb 11th, 2011:
A video showing Ronald’s decapitation is posted on YouTube, in response to McDonald’s Corporation’s failure to answer kidnapper demands.
Shortly after:
Leaks reveal that the beheading was a fake. A plaster cast of Ronald had been made. The ‘execution’ was filmed at the Showroom Gallery, Helsinki.
Today:
Ronald lives on to this day, but has never been reinstated to his post in the Ruoholahti store.
McDonald’s have still not answered those questions.
“When people realise that a matter is art, the content becomes neutralised. I thought that I would start avoiding talking about art, because things feel more real that way.” – Jani Leinonen, Helsingin Sanomat, 14.2.2011
www.freeronald.org
