Overview
- The update removes the illustrated man known as Uncle Herschel from the 1977 logo, leaving a simplified wordmark inside a barrel-shaped badge.
- High-profile criticism from conservative figures and influencers, including Donald Trump Jr. and Rep. Byron Donalds, fueled a social-media pile-on that drew wider attention.
- Shares fell intraday by roughly 12% to 15%, briefly wiping about $100 million in market value, before losses narrowed and the stock ticked higher on Friday.
- CEO Julie Felss Masino and CMO Sarah Moore say the brand’s values are unchanged, the refresh spans ads, menus and interiors, and internal surveys show largely positive reactions.
- The dispute has intertwined with ongoing DEI scrutiny, including a July EEOC complaint from America First Legal, turning the logo change into a broader culture-war flashpoint.