The Travis Scott x McDonald’s collaboration, which launched in September 2020, took the world by storm. It was not just a promotional campaign but a full-blown cultural phenomenon, merging fast food and hip-hop in an unprecedented way. The partnership between McDonald’s and rapper Travis Scott, known for his genre-bending music and creative marketing, went far beyond a mere meal deal. It marked the first celebrity meal since Michael Jordan’s in the 1990s and featured a variety of unique moments that spanned exclusive merchandise, viral social media trends, and a marketing strategy that revolutionized fast food promotion.
In this article, we’ll explore 90+ memorable moments from the Travis Scott x McDonald’s collaboration, highlighting how the campaign evolved and why it resonated so deeply with both fans of the artist and fast-food enthusiasts.
The Launch of “The Travis Scott Meal”
The Travis Scott Meal was the centrepiece of the collaboration, available at McDonald’s locations across the United States starting September 8, 2020.
1. Influence on Other Brands: The success of the Travis Scott x McDonald’s collaboration pushed other companies, particularly in the food industry, to rethink their marketing strategies. Brands like Taco Bell, Wendy’s, and Burger King began exploring similar celebrity endorsements to connect with younger audiences.
2. First Celebrity Meal Since Michael Jordan: Travis Scott became the first celebrity since Michael Jordan to have his name associated with a McDonald’s meal, elevating the significance of the collaboration.
3. The $6 Price Tag: The meal was affordably priced at $6, making it accessible to a wide range of fans.
4. Custom Menu Selection: The meal included a Quarter Pounder with Cheese, bacon, lettuce, medium fries with BBQ sauce, and a Sprite with extra ice—Scott’s go-to McDonald’s order.
5. Catchy Slogan “Cactus Jack Sent Me”: Fans who ordered the meal in-store were encouraged to say the phrase “Cactus Jack sent me,” creating a unique interaction between customers and staff.
6. Merchandise Teaser with Meal Launch: The announcement of the meal was accompanied by a teaser for the upcoming exclusive Travis Scott merchandise.
Merchandise Madness
Travis Scott is known for his creative merchandise drops, and the McDonald’s collaboration was no exception. The merchandise line combined McDonald’s imagery with Travis Scott’s Cactus Jack branding, creating highly sought-after items.
7. Fans Continue to Recreate the Experience: Even after the campaign ended, fans continued to create their own Travis Scott x McDonald’s experiences, whether through
8. First Wave of Merchandise: The first merchandise drop featured over 50 items, including t-shirts, hoodies, and shorts, all inspired by McDonald’s iconic branding.
9. Burger-Inspired Clothing: Some designs featured images of McDonald’s burgers, fries, and drinks paired with Cactus Jack logos, blending fast food with streetwear.
10. Cactus Jack x McDonald’s Pillow: One of the most memorable items was a body pillow shaped like a McDonald’s Chicken McNuggets, which quickly became a fan favorite.
11. Golden Arches Logo Redesign: The collaboration featured a reimagining of McDonald’s golden arches logo, incorporating Travis Scott’s signature aesthetic with Cactus Jack’s rugged style.
12. Limited-Edition Basketball Jersey: A Cactus Jack basketball jersey featured in the merch drop was one of the most coveted items, selling out almost instantly.
13. Nostalgic Lunchbox Design: The merchandise also included a nostalgic metal lunchbox featuring vintage McDonald’s artwork with a modern twist.
14. Custom Denim Jackets: One of the higher-end items in the collection was a custom denim jacket with patches featuring McDonald’s and Cactus Jack logos.
15. “McDonald’s All-American” Hoodie: A standout hoodie featured the phrase “McDonald’s All-American,” paying homage to the famous high school basketball game and adding a cultural layer to the merchandise.
Viral Social Media Moments
Social media was a massive driving force behind the success of the Travis Scott x McDonald’s collaboration. From memes to TikTok trends, the campaign spread like wildfire across platforms.
16. Revolutionizing Fast Food Promotions: This campaign redefined how fast food brands approach promotional deals. No longer limited to coupons or discounts, the focus shifted toward creating buzz through partnerships with cultural icons.
17. TikTok Dance Challenges: Fans quickly created dance challenges inspired by the collaboration, incorporating Scott’s music and McDonald’s-related moves.
18. Instagram Hype: Travis Scott’s announcement of the collaboration on Instagram garnered millions of likes, setting the tone for the campaign’s viral nature.
19. #CactusJackSentMe Trend: The hashtag “#CactusJackSentMe” took over Twitter and Instagram, with fans sharing their meals and experiences at McDonald’s.
20. Unboxing Videos: Popular YouTubers and influencers posted unboxing videos of the merchandise, driving further excitement and desire for the items.
21. Fast Food Influencers Jump In: Even fast-food review channels on YouTube and TikTok got in on the action, reviewing the Travis Scott Meal and the limited-edition merchandise.
22. Travis Scott Impersonators: Some fans dressed up as Travis Scott and visited McDonald’s restaurants, mimicking the rapper’s style and creating their own viral content.
23. Meme Explosion: The internet was flooded with memes, often poking fun at the rush to order the Travis Scott Meal and the massive demand for the merchandise.
24. Burger King Trolls McDonald’s: Burger King, McDonald’s main competitor, playfully trolled the campaign by tweeting about their own “celeb meal” featuring a Whopper.
The Travis Scott x McDonald’s Employee Reactions
With fans flocking to McDonald’s locations to order the meal and engage with the campaign, employees across the country had some memorable moments of their own.
25. Employee TikTok Reactions: Many McDonald’s employees took to TikTok, sharing their reactions to the surge in Travis Scott Meal orders.
26. “Cactus Jack Sent Me” Flood: Employees humorously shared stories of customers repeatedly shouting “Cactus Jack sent me,” turning a simple order into a playful experience.
27. Handling the Merch Hype: McDonald’s employees became temporary gatekeepers of the merchandise hype, with many locations selling out of posters and other limited-edition in-store items.
28. Massive Drive-Thru Lines: Some McDonald’s locations experienced overwhelming drive-thru lines as fans rushed to get their hands on the meal.
29. Overwhelmed Kitchen Staff: Kitchen workers shared stories of the Travis Scott Meal causing record-high sales, leading to some temporary shortages of ingredients like bacon and BBQ sauce.
30. Creative Customer Interactions: Some employees even joined in on the fun, engaging with customers by repeating Travis Scott lyrics or playing along with the “Cactus Jack sent me” phrase.
Creative Marketing and Promotions
The marketing behind the Travis Scott collaboration was as inventive as the artist himself, combining traditional advertising with modern social media engagement.
31. Custom McDonald’s Ad Featuring “Sicko Mode”: The campaign’s main advertisement featured Travis Scott as an action figure, playing his hit song “Sicko Mode” in the background.
32. Merchandise in McDonald’s Storefronts: Some McDonald’s locations featured limited-edition merchandise displays, with posters, apparel, and even McDonald’s employee uniforms branded with Cactus Jack imagery.
33. Surprise Merch Drops: Throughout the campaign, surprise merchandise drops kept fans on their toes, with new items appearing on Travis Scott’s online store without prior notice.
34. Celebrity Collaborations: Several other celebrities, including NBA players and fellow musicians, were spotted wearing the McDonald’s x Travis Scott merch, further driving demand.
35. Billboards in Major Cities: Major cities like New York and Los Angeles were adorned with massive billboards promoting the collaboration, featuring iconic images from the campaign.
Sold-out merch and Limited Supply
The demand for Travis Scott’s merchandise was nothing short of astronomical. Limited-edition items flew off virtual shelves, with some pieces becoming instant collector’s items.
36. Complete Sellout in Minutes: Many of the merchandise items, including the highly coveted Chicken McNugget pillow, sold out within minutes of their release.
37. Resale Market Surge: The resale market for Travis Scott x McDonald’s merchandise exploded, with some items being resold at ten times their original price.
38. McDonald’s Merch Scalpers: Scalpers quickly took advantage of the high demand, leading to inflated prices on secondary markets like eBay and StockX.
39. Limited Availability of Posters: In-store posters, meant to promote the collaboration, became sought-after items with fans often asking McDonald’s employees if they could take them home.
40. Employee Uniforms as Collectors’ Items: Some collectors even tried to get their hands on McDonald’s employee uniforms, which featured Cactus Jack branding.
Cultural Impact and Legacy
The Travis Scott and McDonald’s collaboration left an indelible mark on pop culture, blending music, fashion, and fast food in a way that had never been seen before.
41. Record-Breaking McDonald’s Sales: The collaboration helped McDonald’s achieve some of its highest sales numbers in recent years, with a surge in both in-store and drive-thru traffic.
42. Redefining Celebrity Collaborations: The success of the Travis Scott Meal set a new standard for celebrity collaborations, proving that cross-industry partnerships could have a massive cultural impact.
43. Inspiring Future Collaborations: Following the success of the Travis Scott campaign, McDonald’s quickly followed up with other celebrity meals, including collaborations with artists like J Balvin and Saweetie.
44. Travis Scott’s Brand Power: The collaboration further solidified Travis Scott’s status as a marketing powerhouse, showing that his influence extended far beyond music.
Cultural Ripples and Media Coverage
The collaboration didn’t just impact fast food and fashion—it permeated the media, with coverage spanning multiple industries and audiences.
45. Widespread Media Coverage: News outlets and media platforms across various industries, including food, music, and fashion, covered the collaboration extensively, recognizing its cultural significance.
46. Late-Night Show Mentions: The Travis Scott Meal was featured in multiple late-night comedy show segments, including Saturday Night Live skits and mentions on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.
47. McDonald’s Stock Surge: McDonald’s stock saw a notable increase during the campaign, reflecting the impact the collaboration had on consumer interest and engagement.
48. Mainstream Media Attention: Publications like The New York Times, Forbes, and Rolling Stone analyzed the business side of the collaboration, focusing on how it redefined celebrity endorsements.
Expanding Merchandise and Collectibles
Travis Scott’s merchandise strategy was known for driving scarcity and hype, and with McDonald’s, this continued through strategic drops and creative items.
49. Cactus Jack Happy Meal Box: One of the standout collectable items in the collaboration was a Cactus Jack-branded Happy Meal box, which became a limited-edition item on resale markets.
50. Limited-Edition Basketball: Another highly sought-after item was a basketball emblazoned with McDonald’s and Cactus Jack branding, appealing to both basketball enthusiasts and Travis Scott fans.
51. Life-Sized McNuggets Body Pillow: The oversized Chicken McNuggets pillow quickly became a viral sensation, with fans obsessing over its quirky design and rapid sellout.
52. Travis Scott McDonald’s Tray: A novelty McDonald’s food tray with Cactus Jack branding became another must-have collectable, blending nostalgia with modern streetwear aesthetics.
53. Cactus Jack Styrofoam Cup: Repurposing McDonald’s iconic drinkware, the collaboration included branded Styrofoam cups that became part of fans’ collections, harkening back to hip-hop’s cup culture.
54. Exclusive Cactus Jack Posters: Fans lucky enough to get their hands on in-store promotional posters turned them into collector’s items, with some reselling them online at premium prices.
55.“I’m Lovin’ It” T-shirts: A nostalgic throwback to McDonald’s classic slogan, these shirts were reimagined with Cactus Jack designs, seamlessly blending fast food culture with modern streetwear.
56. “Spicy McNuggets” Promotional Tease: A special t-shirt drop hinted at the return of McDonald’s Spicy Chicken McNuggets, giving fans a teaser of upcoming menu items through the merchandise.
Fan Reactions and Community Engagement
One of the most defining aspects of the Travis Scott x McDonald’s collaboration was the overwhelming response from fans. The campaign fostered a sense of community and engagement that transcended traditional advertising.
57. Fans Camping Out for Merchandise: Hardcore Travis Scott fans camped out at McDonald’s locations in hopes of snagging in-store exclusive posters or getting a sneak peek at new merch drops.
58. McDonald’s Record App Downloads: The collaboration led to a spike in McDonald’s app downloads, as fans used the app to locate stores offering special promotions and merchandise.
59. Travis Scott McDonald’s Commercial Reaction: Fans flooded social media with reactions to the commercial, praising its creativity, animation style, and incorporation of Travis Scott’s personality and music.
60. Cactus Jack Sent Me Memes: The phrase “Cactus Jack sent me” quickly became a meme, with fans posting humorous takes on their experiences saying the line at McDonald’s locations.
61. Travis Scott Meal on social media: Instagram and TikTok were filled with fans posting pictures of their Travis Scott Meal orders, creatively posing their food and adding custom captions.
62. Reactions to “Sicko Mode” Playing in McDonald’s: Fans reported that some McDonald’s locations were playing Travis Scott’s hit song “Sicko Mode” on repeat during the promotion, adding to the immersive experience.
63. Fan Art and Custom Designs: Fans began creating custom artwork and merchandise inspired by the collaboration, often sharing it on platforms like Instagram and Twitter.
64. Celebrities Endorsing the Collaboration: Several high-profile celebrities, including Kylie Jenner, Travis Scott’s partner, shared posts about the meal, further amplifying the campaign’s reach.
Behind-the-Scenes Collaboration Details
While fans and media were enjoying the spectacle, there were numerous behind-the-scenes moments that showcased how Travis Scott and McDonald’s put the partnership together.
65. Travis Scott’s Creative Input: Reports indicated that Travis Scott was heavily involved in the creative direction of the collaboration, from the merchandise designs to the promotional content.
66. Merchandise Production Challenges: Due to the overwhelming demand for the merchandise, some fans had to wait several weeks for their orders, highlighting the challenges of meeting such intense interest.
67. Sustainability Efforts in Merch Production: Travis Scott emphasized the use of eco-friendly materials in some of the merchandise, particularly in the packaging of certain items.
68. McDonald’s Marketing Strategy Success: Behind the scenes, McDonald’s marketing team celebrated one of their most successful celebrity collaborations to date, using the partnership as a case study for future marketing efforts.
Brand Collaborations and Expansion
The success of the McDonald’s collaboration opened up more doors for Travis Scott, further cementing his place as a brand mogul. This collaboration helped Travis Scott expand into new markets and sectors.
69. Travis Scott x Fortnite Crossover: Following McDonald’s success, Travis Scott continued collaborating with major brands, such as his iconic virtual concert in Fortnite, which drew millions of viewers.
70. Nike and McDonald’s Crossover: There were rumours about potential future collaborations between Travis Scott’s Nike partnership and McDonald’s, possibly hinting at branded sneakers or other sportswear.
71. Cactus Jack Expansion Into Food: The success of the collaboration inspired rumors that Travis Scott might venture into the food industry himself, potentially launching Cactus Jack-branded food products in the future.
72. Travis Scott’s Marketing Blueprint: The blueprint established by the McDonald’s collaboration became a model for future Travis Scott marketing ventures, blending cultural moments with consumer goods.
McDonald’s Strategic Moves Post-Collaboration
McDonald’s didn’t just let the Travis Scott collaboration stand on its own. The company leveraged the momentum to continue engaging younger audiences and further explore the celebrity partnership model.
73. J Balvin Meal Follows: Following the Travis Scott Meal, McDonald’s quickly rolled out the J Balvin Meal, another celebrity collaboration aimed at continuing the momentum with a new audience.
74. McDonald’s Celebrity Meal Strategy: The success of the Travis Scott meal made McDonald’s re-evaluate its strategy for celebrity partnerships, with plans to introduce more celebrity-endorsed meals in the future.
75. McDonald’s Social Media Revamp: The collaboration pushed McDonald’s to upgrade its social media presence, leading to more engagement-driven content and memes to appeal to younger audiences.
The Long-Term Impact on Fast Food Marketing
76. Travis Scott’s collaboration with McDonald’s has had a lasting impact on how fast-food brands approach marketing, particularly through the lens of cultural relevance and celebrity partnerships.
77. Redefining Fast Food Marketing: The campaign redefined how fast-food brands market their products, proving that partnerships with cultural icons can drive significant interest and sales.
78. Cultural Relevance of McDonald’s: McDonald’s found a way to stay culturally relevant with younger generations, using Travis Scott’s influence to reposition itself in a competitive fast-food landscape.
79. Shift in Celebrity Endorsements: The success of the Travis Scott meal reshaped the way companies think about celebrity endorsements, making the approach more interactive and experience-driven.
80. Fast Food Companies Following Suit: Other fast food brands, such as Popeyes and Wendy’s, began considering their own celebrity collaborations, attempting to replicate the viral success of McDonald’s and Travis Scott.
Global Influence and International Reach
While the campaign was primarily focused on the United States, the Travis Scott x McDonald’s collaboration still managed to capture the attention of fans around the world.
81. International Fans Mimicking the Meal: Fans outside the U.S. began recreating their own versions of the Travis Scott Meal, sharing their experiences online and tagging McDonald’s.
82. Worldwide Merchandise Demand: The merchandise was so popular that international fans were willing to pay extra for shipping, with some items even popping up in overseas resale markets.
83. Global McDonald’s Campaign Impact: McDonald’s international branches took notice of the campaign’s success, with some countries exploring their own local celebrity collaborations.
The Travis Scott Legacy
Even after the official collaboration ended, the Travis Scott x McDonald’s moments continued to live on in pop culture.
84. Continued Resale Market: Items from the collaboration remain highly sought-after on resale platforms like StockX and eBay, with prices for merchandise and collectables continuing to climb.
85. Cactus Jack Branding Longevity: The collaboration further solidified Cactus Jack as a globally recognized brand, with its influence extending beyond music into fashion and food.
86. Fans Clamoring for a Sequel: Fans have continuously expressed their desire for another collaboration, whether through a new meal, merch drop, or promotional event.
87. Legacy in Fast Food History: The Travis Scott Meal cemented itself in the history of fast food marketing as one of the most influential and successful campaigns of the 21st century.
Unexpected Collaborations and Surprises
McDonald’s and Travis Scott made the campaign special by continuously surprising fans with unexpected collaborations and drops.
88. Hidden Messages in Merchandise: Some merchandise items included hidden Easter eggs and messages, with designs that referenced both Travis Scott’s music and McDonald’s iconic branding.
89. Surprise Appearances by Travis Scott: Travis Scott made surprise appearances at select McDonald’s locations, much to the delight of fans, further driving engagement and excitement.
90. Partnership with Gaming Communities: McDonald’s partnered with gaming influencers to promote the Travis Scott Meal, tying into Travis Scott’s presence in gaming through Fortnite and other platforms.
Lasting Brand Lessons
The Travis Scott x McDonald’s collaboration provided both companies and fans with valuable lessons in the power of brand partnerships and creative marketing.
91. Importance of Cultural Capital: Travis Scott’s influence in music, fashion, and culture gave McDonald’s significant cultural capital, showing the value of authenticity in collaborations.
92. Blurring the Lines Between Industries: The collaboration blurred the lines between food, music, and fashion, illustrating how cross-industry partnerships can create significant consumer buzz.
93. Harnessing the Power of Social Media: McDonald’s and Travis Scott successfully used social media to drive viral engagement, setting a new standard for future marketing campaigns.
94. Youth-Oriented Marketing Shift: The collaboration marked a major shift in fast food marketing toward a younger, more digitally connected audience.
95. Consumer Desire for Experience: Beyond the food itself, fans were drawn to the experience that came with the Travis Scott Meal, from the viral phrases to the collectable merchandise.
The Travis Scott x McDonald’s collaboration was more than just a fast food promotion—it was a groundbreaking cultural moment that transcended industries and reshaped how brands approach celebrity partnerships. Through creative marketing, viral engagement, and exclusive merchandise, the campaign bridged the worlds of music, fashion, and food, creating an experience that resonated deeply with fans.
With over 90 iconic moments, from the launch of the Travis Scott Meal to the limited-edition merchandise and viral social media trends, this collaboration set new standards for how brands can connect with younger, digitally-savvy audiences. The success of the campaign highlighted Travis Scott’s marketing prowess, reinforcing his brand as a force that extends far beyond music.