Monster Energy Drinks are Satanic-Fiction!

Monster Energy Drinks are Satanic-Fiction!

 
Summary of eRumor:
 
Subtle satanic references can be found in Monster Energy’s logo and branding.

The Truth:
The marketing firm that developed the name, brand and package design for Monster Energy told TruthorFiction.com that there aren’t any hidden satanic messages in it.

Rumors that that the Monster brand hides subliminal satanic messages went viral after an unidentified woman made that claim in a video posted in November 2014.

In the video, the woman claims that the “M” that appears on cans of Monster is actually “Vav,” the Hebrew numeral for six, repeated three times. She interprets that to mean “666.”

The woman also claims a crucifix can be found inside the “O” of the Monster banner logo. She interprets the two occurrences to represent “the beast” from the Book of Revelations.

“This is not a Christian company at all,” the woman said. “So why would they have a cross on the can? Here is the message: Anti-Christ.”

TruthorFiction.com tracked down McLean Design, the firm that Hansen Beverage Corporation hired to developed the name, logo and packaging for what would become “Monster” way back in 2000, to find out the truth.

Rifle Hughes, managing director of McLean Design, emphatically denied that Monster’s brand has any subliminal messaging, satanic or otherwise.

“The facts are that we were there,” Hughes said. “We were at all of the client meetings and putting in hours at the studio creating what has become one of the most recognized brands in popular culture. Trust me, there was nothing in the creative brief about anything spiritual or layering hidden meanings.”

The firm outlines its work to brand “Monster” in this case study. In 1997, Hansen helped launched the energy drink market, but its market share had dropped to just 8 percent by 2000. Hansen turned to McLean Design to develop an edgy brand that would “drive sales, volume and market penetration” for a new line of 16-ounce cans of energy drink.

The firm settled on three finalists for the new brand’s name: “Fatboy,” “Deuce” and “Monster.” Ultimately, the company said, it went with “Monster” because of the 16-ounce can’s larger size, as well as its “maniacal energy,” and its status as a “social renegade.”

And the “M” logo was inspired by Alfred Hitchcock, not satan.

“We designed the logo to be an iconic ‘M’ that would imply the presence of a monster’s claws ripping through the can. It’s the whole, ‘the monster you don’t see is scarier’ thing — see Hitchcock,” Hughes said.

And Hughes said there’s no crucifix inside the Monster banner’s “O,” either.

“The ‘O’ was part of an existing typeface,” Hughes said. “We added the bone through the ‘O’ to make it more menacing. It’s not a hidden cross. It’s not a cross at all. It’s not even a Psi. It’s an ‘O.’”

Hughes said conspiracy theories about the Monster’s brand are nothing new, and he doesn’t expect them to go away anytime soon.

“The issue with all these online theories is that they cherry pick historical symbology, make some pretty wild leaps in connection, and force-fit some ‘ah-ha’ that they often believe to be there before they start connecting the dots,” Hughes said.

Posted 11/17/14