These Friends Snuck a Poster of Themselves Into Their Local McDonald's -- and It's Still There Jevh Maravilla saw the blank wall as a chance to make the restaurant a little more inclusive.

By Nina Zipkin

Jevh M | Youtube

Originally published September 4, 2018

As the saying goes, you can't be what you can't see, but recently, a 21-year-old University of Houston student named Jevh Maravilla took that advice to heart in a somewhat unexpected way.

At his local McDonald's, Maravilla and his friends looked around and realized that there weren't any Asian faces in the photos. So when they noticed a blank wall, they knew exactly what they wanted to do: create a poster of themselves aping the cheesy, cheerful aesthetic of McDonald's decor and find a way to hang it in the restaurant.

The group purchased an old McDonald's shirt from a thrift store and created a badge to make Maravilla's disguise as a "regional interior coordinator" look more legitimate for their photo shoot. They then enlisted friends to mount the poster as quickly as possible before anyone noticed.

"To this day, I can say that the poster has been up since," Maravilla said in a video detailing the scheme. "And I really hope they never take it down. Remember, folks: all races deserve recognition. And I guess I did my part."

Updated September 18, 2018

And his conviction paid off. The scheme caught the attention of Ellen DeGeneres -- who is well known for loving a good prank -- the host had them Maravilla and his friend Christian Toledo on her show to walk her through their process. They shared that when corporate learned about the prank, they weren't annoyed. In fact, when the poster had to be taken down for a planned renovation, it was put up for auction. The boys will also be featured in an upcoming marketing campaign -- and each received a giant check for $25,000.

Nina Zipkin

Entrepreneur Staff

Staff Writer. Covers leadership, media, technology and culture.

Nina Zipkin is a staff writer at Entrepreneur.com. She frequently covers leadership, media, tech, startups, culture and workplace trends.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Business Ideas

70 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2025

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2025.

Growing a Business

Don't Let These 8 Common Expenses Stunt Your Growth and Drain Your Profits

Here are a few common business expenses that likely won't deliver a return on your investment — so it's time to reevaluate them.

Taxes

File Your Taxes Early With 33% off H&R Block

This version covers federal and state forms, even if you have investments.

Science & Technology

What Is 'AI Tasking'? Entrepreneurs Are Using This Viral Strategy to Save 3 Days a Week

Want to 10x revenue without hiring? AI automates marketing, saving you 3+ days/week. Learn 4 AI tools for content, chatbots, leads & sales. Get the free 'AI Success Kit' + a chapter from Ben's new book!

Leadership

'The Most Important Traits Are Confidence and Humility': Leadership Lessons From an Army Ranger Turned CEO

Dan Streetman, the CEO of Tanium, a leading cybersecurity company located in the San Francisco Bay Area, on how being an Army Ranger has prepared him to be a CEO, what leadership means to him and how his company works to deliver the power of certainty for the organizations it serves.