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McDonald's changes its tune on Szechuan Sauce after 'Rick and Morty' fans get mad

This weekend's huge McDonald's promo over Szechuan Sauce seems to have fallen flat across the entire nation with fans of the animated series Rick and Morty.
The special 'Rick and Morty' edition Szechuan Sauce from McDonald's

UPDATE: After this weekend's Szechuan Sauce misstep, McDonald's is now promising to make more sauce available "soon," in a statement on Sunday, promising more of the elusive sauce this winter, and not just at "select restaurants," but across the board, so that anyone, anywhere "will only have to ask for it at a nearby McDonald's.

Here's the statement from the fast-food giant:

To our customers and Szechuan Sauce lovers,

Yesterday, we were truly humbled by the amazing curiosity, passion and energy this community showed to welcome back Szechuan Sauce—even if just for one day. Thank you, a million times over.

Between the costumes, the memes and the cross-state travel, you, the fans, showed us what you got. And our super-limited batch, though well-intentioned, clearly wasn’t near enough to meet that demand.

"Not cool.”

We agree. So, we’re gonna make this right. In the last 24 hours, we've worked to open any portal necessary. And it worked.

Szechuan Sauce is coming back once again this winter. And instead of being one-day-only and limited to select restaurants, we’re bringing more—a lot more—so that any fan who’s willing to do whatever it takes for Szechuan Sauce will only have to ask for it at a nearby McDonald’s.

We want to make this right. You're some of the best fans in this, or any, dimension…and we plan to deliver on that promise as soon as possible. Stay tuned.

—Your friends at McDonald’s

The big fuss is over this weekend's big McDonald's promotion over the weekend with the animated Adult Swim series 'Rick and Morty'. The promo has angered fans of the popular television series from across the nation.

In the third season premiere of the series, which aired on the Atlanta-based network in April, one of the main characters, Rick Sanchez professed his love for McDonald's Szechuan Sauce, which was available as a special promotional item in June 1998 during the initial motion picture release of the film Mulan.

In the episode, Rick goes back "to the day it all began" in his memory when he could still order the Szechuan Sauce and taste it one more time. By the end of the episode, Rick went completely crazy, ranting that he wanted more of that "Mulan Szechuan Teriyaki Dipping Sauce" -- even if it takes nine more seasons or 97 years.

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The fanbase of the series began besieging McDonald's on social media and in real life, demanding that they re-release the sauce. In July, the company responded, sending a 64-ounce bottle of the sauce to Rick and Morty co-creator Justin Rolland, who also voices both characters on the Adult Swim series.

RELATED | McDonald's promises 'Rick and Morty' fans more Szechuan sauce after first batch sells out

MORE | McDonald's Szechuan Sauce is back for one day, and you can thank 'Rick and Morty'

McDonald's also ran an online campaign for three fans to receive bottles of the sauce. One of the bottles was auctioned off on eBay for more than $15,000.

Apparently ready to seize on a good thing, McDonald's announced that they would be releasing a handful of screened posters and their Szechuan Sauce at a limited number of locations across the nation -- three locations were announced in metro Atlanta: North Druid Hills Road, Ponce de Leon Avenue and Northside Drive -- with one collectible giveaway per customer.

'Rick and Morty' is very popular among college students, so students from Georgia Tech flocked to the closest McDonald's location: on Northside Drive, ready to obtain the sauce and posters.

The manager there informed visitors that they had only received 18 packs of the sauce, and that by 11 a.m., they already had a waiting list of more than 40 people. Both of the other Atlanta locations reported similar situations.

Reports from Chicago indicate only four locations there had the sauce, with limits of 40 packets per store.

Some packets of the Szechuan Sauce have found their way to eBay with prices exceeding $400 each.

While many complaints by individuals online have suggested reporting McDonald's to the Better Business Bureau and the Federal Trade Commission for bait-and-switch tactics or unfair trade practices, so far, the only comment from McDonald's was a tweeted apology saying "we're sorry not everyone could get some super-limited Szechuan."

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