Bizarre theory claims McDonald’s iconic arches has secret hidden sexual meaning

Fans of McDonalds have been shocked to discover a bizarre theory about the brand.

While millions have loved those iconic Golden Arches, many customers would be shocked to learn about the alleged secret sexual meaning behind the logo.

For those not in the know, McDonald's started out as a local restaurant run by brothers Dick and Mac McDonald.

They ran a limited menu, allowing the rapid service McDonald's has become known for today.

Now all they needed was an eye catching logo.

Richard McDonald was keen to incorporate an arch somehow, and hired architect Stanley Meston to bring his vision to life.

Meston ended up crafting Richard's sketches into 25ft-hight neon-lit metal arches - the logo we all know and love today.

The Golden Arches were crafted by signmaker George Dexter, and they made their debut in 1953 on the first franchised McDonald's in Phoenix, Arizona.

Prisma by Dukas Presseagentur GmbH / Alamy Stock Photo

Everyone today would agree that the Golden Arches were a genius bit of marketing, but in the 1960s bosses apparently almost scrapped them entirely.

However, according to Reader’s Digest, design consultant Louis Cheskin came to their rescue, and the reason he was so keen on them was because of what he saw as the bizarre NSFW subtext behind the harmless ‘m’.

Cheskin was a big fan of psychologist Sigmund Freud, and believed the Golden Arches were successful because they reminded customers of a giant pair of boobs.

Yes, really.

According to Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of the All-American Meal, Cheskin claimed the arches are meant to symbolise ‘mother McDonald’s breasts’.

Lourens Smak / Alamy Stock Photo

He then suggests that it was this association that led people to eat at McDonald’s, rather than eat a home-cooked meal.

Though many may still believe the golden arches are just an ‘m’, people have theorised that other fast food brands have adopted similar marketing strategies.

Most famously, Wendy’s logo had a secret written in the collar of its mascot and if you look closely, you’ll see the word ‘mom’.

A clever ploy to associate the brand with mum's cooking, you would have thought - but apparently it was entirely accidental.

Denny Lynch, Wendy's senior vice president of communications, clarified: "We are aware of this and find it interesting that it appears our Wendy cameo has 'mom' on her ruffled collar.

"We can assure you it was unintentional."

So maybe all fast food logos don't have hidden Freudian meanings then.

Topics: Weird, Food And Drink

Katherine Sidnell

Katherine is an entertainment journalist with a love of all things nerdy. Starting out writing Doctor Who fan fiction as a kid, she has gone on to interview the likes of Matt Damon, James May and Dua Lipa to name a few. Published in The Sun, The Daily Mail and Evening Standard - she now joins Ladbible as resident nerd in chief.

@ksidnell