A&W мейрамының аю маскаты - Rooty

Mascot of A&W American restaurant chain

The Great Root Bear, known since at least early 2012 as Rooty, is an anthropomorphic brown bear used as the mascot (or "spokesbear") of both A&W Restaurants in the USA and its operations in Asia, while the Canadian operations use its own version. The mascot was introduced to the public in 1973. The mascot went out of use in the USA in the 2000s but saw a resurge after 2011.

Rooty's appearance is identical between the two branches. Common to both versions is the appearance. Rooty is a bipedal brown bear with a tan muzzle, orange hat and an orange sweater with the A&W logo printed on it. The Canadian version has a modified face and a brown muzzle. Rooty also lacks opposable thumbs in his paws.

Before long, The Great Root Bear was adopted by the American A&W chain, as well as the restaurants it operated in Asia. In the United States alone, the previous A&W mascots, the Burger Family, were phased out beginning in 1973. While canonically according to A&W, Rooty was "born" on June 19, 1974, older press material given to franchisees claim that he was actually "born" in September 1973. The Great Root Bear was now making widespread public appearances in places such as hospitals, schools and in the chain's own restaurants. By 1976 the mascot had become successful, with merchandise such as straws featuring the bear were made available. In 1978, the company's newsletter, the A&W News Dispenser, was renamed A&W News Bearer. Balloons in birthday parties hosted at its restaurants were given the name "bearloons" and the straws, "bearstraws".

The Great Root Bear, with its own design, continued appearing in television commercials for the separate chain in Canada. During 1997 and 1998, Drew Carey served as a spokesperson for the chain, appearing in TV ads alongside the bear; he was dismissed (with legal action ensuing) after a November 1998 episode of The Drew Carey Show featured Carey eating at a McDonald's location in China. Following the reintroduction of The Burger Family, the bear was phased out from advertising.

In early February, 2013, Rooty became the first mascot to have a LinkedIn profile. Users who connected with the mascot received customized, tongue in cheek recommendations. Within a week, Rooty's profile received a total of 22 recommendations. The profile wasn't directly promoted, instead it was spread in by word of mouth. The profile didn't last long, and on February 13, LinkedIn removed the profile, under the grounds that the Rooty wasn't real. A&W released a video protesting the decision.

On January 24, 2023, A&W Restaurants published a parody tweet referencing the M&M's controversy on its social media profiles, showing Rooty wearing pants, claiming that the mascot's lack of pants was "polarizing". Outrage started emerging from conservative sectors, including Fox News (the report also aired on sister network Fox Business), claiming it to be real. In a follow up tweet, A&W said that the announcement was a joke. Spokesperson Liz Bazner said that the initial post was "purely in jest", and that A&W has no plans to change Rooty's outfit. Fox Business later rectified the report, but didn't return its calls to A&W.