M&M’s will remove its candy spokespeople after a backlash.
(Picture: Getty Images)M&M’s Chocolate has recently announced it will stop using its colourful mascots, known as “beloved spokescandies”, after backlash from the brand’s attempt at inclusion.
The company said actress and comedian Maya Rudolph will be the new replacement as she is someone “America can agree on”.
The brand also shared a statement saying it would take an “indefinite pause” from using its candy mascots.
Basically Tucker Carlson got mad that the green M&M might be a lesbian and now she’s dead…or laid off…it’s hard to know. https://t.co/2X0pvG1qZk
— Decoding Fox News (@DecodingFoxNews) January 23, 2023
Why was M&M’s in hot water?
The cause for the company’s controversy began with their campaign Flip the Status Quo, which was an initiative to help raise money to support women in creative industries.
The campaign featured their limited-edition candy bags with three female “spokescandies” of Brown, Green, and its newest addition, Purple.
However, the multi-coloured button-shaped chocolates were met with strong criticism from right-wing media, including Fox News, after the campaign announcement.
today I learned that m&ms is putting their mascots on an indefinite pause because a bunch of old pricks got upset at CANDY
— wolfy (@wolfyaftrdark) January 24, 2023
it is an actual chocolate, it is a fake character, it‘s NOT that deep
Fox News host Tucker Carlson in particular was quick to show his dismay, criticising the “woke M&M’s” and questioning the sexual orientations and physical depictions of the candy mascots.
As such, M&M’s Chocolate released a statement reassuring they were not attempting to “break the internet” and shared their hope that Rudolph would be the perfect spokesperson for the brand.
Losing the M&Ms mascots to the culture wars was not something I would have guessed 2023 would bring us, but here we are.
— Jeff (@jeffneuen) January 24, 2023
It said: “America, let’s talk. In the last year, we’ve made some changes to our beloved spokescandies. We weren’t sure if anyone would even notice. And we definitely didn’t think it would break the internet.
“But now we get it - even a candy’s shoes can be polarising. Which was the last thing M&M’s wanted since we’re all about bringing people together.”
M&Ms getting rid of their mascots is just sad dude. There is no room for joy or creativity left in the world.
— Evan(escence) 🐷 (@peridoxpig) January 24, 2023
“We are confident Ms Rudolph will champion the power of fun to create a world where everyone feels they belong,” the company added.
If republicans have a problem with M&Ms they shouldn’t be allowed to eat them, it’s that simple. M&M’s pandering to the right to remove their mascots is the dumbest shit I’ve ever heard of in my life.
— Alex Elias (@Unknownfear) January 23, 2023
According to Today, The Bridesmaids star will be the new M&M’s spokesperson for the company’s upcoming Super Bowl ad on February 12, a role she described as an “honour”.
A message from M&M'S. pic.twitter.com/EMucEBTd9o
— M&M'S (@mmschocolate) January 23, 2023
