1

McLean Deluxe

Image: Szabo Viktor

Remember the low-fat diet craze of the 1990s? Well, McDonald's was no stranger to it. To attract customers seeking "healthier" options, Mickey D's introduced the McLean Deluxe—a supposedly lighter burger than the Big Mac . The patty, developed by food scientists at Auburn University, was made with 90% meat and seaweed extract.

The company’s intentions were noble, but most consumers weren’t convinced by the "low fat but tastes great" slogan. Apparently, it was not tasty enough for the American palate and was ultimately pulled from stores in 1996 .

2

McHotDog

Image: sstoyanov

It doesn’t seem far-fetched for McDonald's to offer a hot dog on its menu. Yet, for many years, the company avoided it because Ray Kroc—the man who transformed McDonald's into the megafranchise we know today—had banned them on the grounds that sausages were of questionable quality.

Despite his reservations, McDonald's introduced the McHotDog in several locations in the mid-1990s. For unknown reasons, however, the product never took off. Have you ever tried it? What did you think?

3

McDLT

Image: Aaron Boucicault

No, it has nothing to do with Subway's BMT or the classic BLT sandwich. The McDLT, introduced in 1984, was a lettuce and tomato burger with only one novelty: it was sold in a Styrofoam container, separated in two, and you had to assemble it yourself.

The most likely reason for the McDLT’s demise was the backlash against Styrofoam in the late 1980s, due to its environmental impact. And let’s be honest—how many people actually want to assemble their own hamburger?

4

Hula Burger

Image: Irene Kredenets

Long before vegan options became popular, Ray Kroc attempted to offer a meatless option for Roman Catholics to eat during Lent. Introduced in 1963, the Hula Burger was essentially a cheeseburger with a slice of pineapple instead of a meat patty.

The idea was a complete flop and was quickly replaced by the Filet-O-Fish, which served the same purpose but was much better received by the public.

5

McLobster

Image: ucomedia

Believe it or not, McDonald's once had a lobster roll on its menu. Introduced in 1993, the McLobster was a sandwich served in a hot dog bun with lobster sauce and shredded lettuce.

Why did it fail? Mostly because of the price . Not only was it expensive for a fast food chain, but if you wanted lobster, you’d probably go to a seafood restaurant instead—don’t you agree?

6

Arch Deluxe

Image: HamZa NOUASRIA

Flavor-wise, the burger "with the grown-up taste" was decent enough, the problem was the marketing campaign that went along with it. The Arch Deluxe was designed for adults , featuring more sophisticated and expensive ingredients.

However, the ads showed Ronald McDonald engaging in adult activities and young rappers saying, "Yuck," which failed to resonate with anyone. The product flopped and was discontinued in 2000 . After all, no matter how old we are, when we go to McDonald's, we all want to feel like kids again.

7

McPizza

Image: dankeck, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

In hindsight, McDonald's should have stuck to selling burgers. But we have to give them credit for trying something different. In the late 1980s, the Golden Arches attempted to expand its menu with dinner options, introducing the McPizza. Sold only after 4 p.m. , it was heavily promoted through a major marketing campaign.

However, it was doomed to fail. Pizza takes much longer to prepare than a burger, and most people prefer to buy theirs from traditional pizza parlors. The McPizza was discontinued around 2000 and hasn’t returned to the menu since.

8

McPasta

Image: Lance Lozano

Just as pizza was a bad idea, offering pasta dishes at a burger joint was an even bigger stretch. Since the 1970s , McDonald's has attempted to market pasta, adding items like spaghetti and meatballs, lasagna, and fettuccine to its menu.

Needless to say, despite multiple attempts, all of McDonald's pasta products eventually flopped.

9

Onion Nuggets

Image: Brett Jordan

In 1975, a year after Burger King debuted its famous Onion Rings, McDonald's introduced Onion Nuggets. As the name suggests, this side dish consisted of small, fried onion pieces .

Unfortunately for vegetable lovers, Onion Nuggets were not as successful as their ring-shaped competitors and were finally removed from the menu in the mid-1980s. Just a few months later, McDonald's launched Chicken McNuggets, which proved to be a far bigger success.

10

McSalad Shakers

Image: Hermes Rivera

It seems that most of McDonald's attempts to offer healthier options were fruitless. The McSalad Shakers were salads sold in plastic cup-like containers that you had to shake to distribute the dressing evenly.

Although they featured three appealing flavors—Chef, Grilled Chicken Caesar, and Garden—McSalad Shakers lasted only a few years on the market. In 2003, the cups were replaced by traditional bowls, which, you’ll probably agree, make much more sense.

11

McDonaldland Cookies

Image: 三岁 陈

It remains a mystery why this item disappeared from the McDonald's menu, as it was a favorite among many for years. First introduced in 1974, this dessert consisted of crunchy lemon-flavored cookies shaped like the classic McDonaldland characters—Grimace, Hamburglar, The Fry Kids, Birdie, and Ronald himself!

McDonaldland Cookies came with the Happy Meal but were discontinued in the early 2000s , likely due to health concerns. The good news is, if you want to bring back this childhood flavor, you can still find them in Australia!

1

Althea Gibson

Image: Josephine Gasser

Born in 1927, Althea Gibson was an American tennis player and a professional golfer. As a sportswoman her ability was extraordinary, but her major achievement was breaking the color barrier in tennis in the 1950s.

Althea was the first African-American woman to play the U.S. National Championships and the first black woman to win a Grand Slam in 1956.

She won 11 Grand Slams, five singles titles, five doubles, and one mixed doubles title. And she opened the door for other black sportswomen to be under the spotlight. Quite impressive, right?

2

Eleanor Roosevelt

Image: René DeAnda

If aviation or sports were controversial places for women, imagine politics! But that didn’t stop Eleanor Roosevelt, a key figure in American politics .

As Franklin D. Roosevelt’s wife, who presided over America from 1933 to 1945, Eleanor was the longest-serving first lady of the United States and, as such she was unwaveringly committed to the people. She redefined the concept of the first lady.

She advocated for human rights and social justice and used her position to work for women, African Americans, and the impoverished. And to top it all, she was a central figure in drafting the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

3

Amelia Earhart

Image: Tomas Martinez

Even if she was born in 1897, Amelia is considered a key figure of the 20th century because she was an aviation pioneer . As such she broke several records: She was the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic and the first to promote commercial air travel.

But that wasn’t all, Amelia was an activist for women’s rights and wrote best-selling books narrating her adventures as a pilot. The mysteries behind her disappearance during her flight across the Pacific only made her a bigger icon.

4

Estée Lauder

Image: Towfiqu barbhuiya

Most of the professions held by the women in this article are accepted for women today, but not so long ago, being a woman and a successful businessperson wasn’t very common: That was the case with Estéé Lauder who launched her eponymous cosmetics company with her husband.

The brand's success never went unnoticed and it is a best-selling company in the present world. But to top her achievements, Lauder was listed as one of the 20 most influential businesspeople of the century!

5

Aretha Franklin

Image: Alberto Bigoni

During the 20th century, the music industry has seen some of the best singers and songwriters of all time. America has no shortage of talented musicians, but being named the Queen of Soul is something else altogether!

Aretha was a black singer, songwriter, and pianist, and her music gained her the Rolling Stones magazine recognition of "Greatest Singer of All Time" not once, but twice! Not to mention the 18 Grammy Awards or the Presidential Medal of Freedom, among other acknowledgments.

Her music has inspired millions of people around the world and it is still a reference in music and culture today.

6

Marilyn Monroe

Image: Jarvik Joshi

Marylin doesn’t need any kind of introduction, does she? She was and still is to this day a pop culture icon. Her work as an actress had a massive impact on the entertainment industry, but her work as a model did something else to the fashion industry: She was known as the "blonde bombshell" and gave birth to a true revolution in terms of body shapes, relationships, and more.

Influential and controversial depending on who talked about her, she was living proof that there is no such thing as bad marketing: All things considered, she still was the best-paid Hollywood actress of the time.

7

Helen Keller

Image: Aaron Burden

Keller’s story is both shocking and inspiring at the same time. At only 19 months of age, Hellen lost her sight and hearing due to an illness. But having a rough childhood never stopped her. Instead, and despite her disability, she became an advocate for the rights of disabled people, a political activist, and a lecturer.

She wrote 14 books, and hundreds of speeches and fought for women’s right to vote, labor rights, and world peace. If you want to be inspired by her story, you can read her autobiography The Story of My Life .

8

Julia Child

Image: Alyson McPhee

French cuisine is exquisite and we’ve got Julia Child to thank for the fact that we Americans know about it. Child revolutionized American cooking by bringing French cuisine to America through her cookbook Mastering the Art of French Cooking and her television show "The French Chef."

In her TV show, Child taught French cooking techniques in a way that is accessible to everyone. She was approachable and enthusiastic which made her an influential figure beyond the kitchen, she was a cultural icon.

9

Toni Morrison

Image: Olga Tutunaru

In the field of literature, Morrison is our chosen one since she was a true giant. Toni Morrison wrote novels that deeply influenced American literature and culture as well.

Her writing made her the first African American woman to receive the Nobel Prize in Literature. In her novels, like Beloved, Sula, and Song of Solomon , Morrison explores the topics of identity, race, history, and heritage. Her characters offer deep insights into the African American experience and humanity which makes her legacy an everlasting one.

10

Rosa Parks

Image: Ant Rozetsky

No article about influential women of the 20th century would be complete if we didn’t mention Rosa Parks.

In 1955, she refused to give her seat on a bus to a white passenger. Her courageous act of defiance sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott and initiated the modern Civil Rights Movement. With a simple, but huge action, she challenged the whole system of racial segregation and inspired a nationwide movement for equality.

The bus boycott was the beginning, yet her work continued beyond that as she fought tirelessly for civil rights for the rest of her life.

1

Marlon Brando

Image: Trailer screenshottrailer at IMDB, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Marlon Brando was one of Hollywood’s most iconic stars, admired for his talent, charisma, and unforgettable roles. He won his first Oscar for On the Waterfront (1954), but things took a very different turn with his second win. When The Godfather earned him another Academy Award in 1972, Brando refused to attend and sent a Native American representative in his place, using the moment to protest Hollywood’s mistreatment and misrepresentation of Indigenous peoples.

2

Tom Cruise

Image: Gabriel Hutchinson Photography, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Like many of the actors on this list, Tom Cruise is a global icon whose career has earned him three Golden Globes: Best Actor for Jerry Maguire (1996), Best Actor for Born on the Fourth of July (1989), and Best Supporting Actor for Magnolia (1999). But in 2021, he made headlines for a very different reason: he returned all three awards. According to reports, Cruise did so as a protest against the ethics and lack of diversity within the organization behind the Globes.

3

Woody Allen

Image: Andreas Tai, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Woody Allen is known for refusing to participate in awards season, despite earning many nominations throughout his career. With around 24 Academy Award nominations, he has attended virtually none of the ceremonies. He has won four Oscars, but he never went to pick them up, though he did not decline or return them. And it’s not just the Oscars: Allen rarely attends any award ceremonies, including the Golden Globes.

4

George C. Scott

Image: Directed by Stanley Kubrick, distributed by Columbia Pictures, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

George C. Scott was one of Hollywood’s great classic stars, celebrated for his powerful work on both stage and screen. And he was also the first actor in history to refuse an Oscar. Not only did he decline nominations for The Hustler (1961) and The List of Adrian Messenger (1963), but he also rejected the Best Actor award he won for Patton (1970). Scott believed that each performance is too unique to be ranked against another, and that art should never be treated like a competition. What do you think?

5

Dolly Parton

Image: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/08/Dolly_Parton_with_guitar.jpg

Actors aren’t the only ones who turn down awards; musicians do it too. One of them is Dolly Parton, who has declined more than just music honors. She was selected three times for the Presidential Medal of Freedom and turned it down each time. The first two refusals were during the pandemic, and the third came from her concern that accepting might seem politically partisan. In addition, in 2022, she also declined a nomination to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, saying she hadn’t yet "earned that right."

6

Katharine Hepburn

Image: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios; Restored by Adam Cuerden, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

The incredible Katharine Hepburn won four Oscars! But she never showed up to collect a single one. She always sent someone else to accept them on her behalf. In fact, she only attended the Oscars once, and it wasn’t to receive an award but to present one. When asked why she stayed away, she summed it up perfectly: "Awards are nothing; my reward is my work."

7

Julie Andrews

Image: Eva Rinaldi, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Born in the United Kingdom, Julie Andrews is adored by Americans for many reasons, including the unforgettable films, such as Mary Poppins (1964) and The Sound of Music (1965). But beyond her cinematic gems, she also built a remarkable career in theater. In 1996, she received a Tony nomination for her role in Victor/Victoria , and chose to decline it. Why? Because she was the only member of the entire cast and production recognized, and she simply didn’t think that was fair.

8

Will Smith

Image: photo by Alan Light, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

In the late 80s, Will Smith and DJ Jazzy Jeff won the first-ever Grammy for Best Rap Performance. But when they learned that their category wouldn’t be televised, they chose to boycott the 1989 Grammy Awards in protest. They didn’t turn down the award itself, but their stand made an impact: the following year, the rap category was broadcast on air, finally receiving the same visibility as the others.

9

Sinéad O'Connor

Image: Globe photo/Dave Shea, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Sinéad O'Connor was world-famous, and in America, we remember her mainly for the unforgettable hit "Nothing Compares 2 U." As a passionate activist, she carried her convictions into her career choices, which led her to turn down her Grammy nomination. She specifically asked that her name be withdrawn, arguing that the Grammys were too commercial and rewarded popularity over ethics, artistry, and musical integrity.

10

Nick Cave

Image: Raph_PH, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Australian artist Nick Cave declined his nomination for Best Male Artist at the 1996 MTV Video Music Awards. He even sent a formal letter asking that his name be withdrawn, famously saying: "My muse is not a horse, and I am not in any horse race."