McDonald's McRib returns this week, sparking celebration among fans of the polarizing sandwich (MCD)

McDonald's McRib returns to menus across the US on Wednesday, December 2. 

The fast-food giant confirmed to Business Insider that the sandwich would be rolling out nationally for the first time since 2012. In the past, the McRib has returned to some, but not all, locations across the US for a limited time every year — sparking confusion and frustration from McRib fans in areas where the item was not on the menu. 

"They kept hyping it up more and more and just teasing the McRib lovers with something they'd never get," Matt — a McRib superfan who created the site McRibGate — told Business Insider. 

Read more:McDonald's McRib is returning to menus across America for the first time in 8 years, sparking celebration among the obsessive fans of the cult-classic sandwich

Matt is part of a community of McRib lovers who came together to demand a wider rollout of the sandwich and strategize how to find the fast-food icon. Many have been forced to use the McRib Locator, a website created by Alan Klein to track the elusive sandwich. 

"In a year as challenging as this year has been, to throw a little McRib out there to those that really want to have it, it feels like something that would be a pretty nice gesture," Klein said of the sandwich's 2020 return.

McDonald's has been hyping the return of the McRib on social media in recent weeks. 

On Monday, the company announced plans to give away 10,000 sandwiches as part of a collaboration with No-Shave November. The first 10,000 people to post a clean-shaven — or simply beard-free — face with the hashtag #Shave4McRibSweepstakes and a @mcdonalds tag on Twitter or Instagram will get a free sandwich. 

The return of the McRib has sparked celebration on social media. 

SEE ALSO: McDonald's Black franchisees' legal team adds attorney for the families of Trayvon Martin and Michael Brown in 'historic' legal battle against the fast-food giant

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