It’s official: M&M’s chocolate is taking a break from their beloved spokescandies.
In a statement released on Twitter, the brand admitted “we weren’t sure if anyone would even notice” the changes they made to the characters’ appearances last year.
A message from M&M'S. pic.twitter.com/EMucEBTd9o
— M&M'S (@mmschocolate) January 23, 2023
But, as it turns out, people did notice and the internet broke. Who knew a candy’s shoes could be so polarizing?
Let’s rewind a bit. Last year, Mars Wrigley, the maker of M&M’s, decided to give their walking, talking M&M’s characters a bit of a makeover. They replaced the shoes of both the brown and green female M&M’s, most notably changing the green M&M’s high-heeled go-go boots to sneakers. The company’s President, Anton Vincent, stated at the time that the changes were made to make the characters more “representative of the customer.”
However, not everyone was on board with the new look. Fox News host Tucker Carlson, for example, declared that the female M&M’s were now “less sexy” with their new footwear. He went on to say in January 2022 that “M&Ms will not be satisfied until every last cartoon character is deeply unappealing and totally androgynous until the moment you wouldn’t want to have a drink with any one of them.”
More recently, right-wing media commentators have complained that by adding a purple M&M, which Mars Wrigley said was to “promote women empowerment,” the company has gone “woke” for diversity’s sake.
Tucker: M&M’s will not be satisfied until every last cartoon character is deeply unappealing and totally androgynous. Until the moment you wouldn’t want to have a drink with any one of them. That’s the goal. When you’re totally turned off, we’ve achieved equity… pic.twitter.com/rz7VtVCHWu
— Acyn (@Acyn) January 22, 2022
And now, it appears as if M&M has listened to the online complaints from Tucker’s followers and decided to take a break from their spokescandies altogether. But don’t worry, they’ve got a new spokesperson lined up to take their place: actress Maya Rudolph.
Rudolph has been given the title of the “Chief of Fun” at M&M’s. An M&M’s spokesperson told TODAY.com that Rudolph will be helping M&M’s and Mars, the candy’s manufacturer, “create a world where everyone feels they belong,” whatever that means.
Of course, we’re sure we’ll find out more when the inevitable Super Bowl ad drops next month. In the weeks leading up to the big game, brands drop bizarre teasers for their ads on social media. (Surely everyone remembers the murder of Mr. Peanut.) And it doesn’t get more bizarre than a piece of chocolate fighting the right wing media.
Thankfully, the Internet is having fun with the newest announcement.
ALERT: RED HAS TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF THE POWER VACUUM. THE OTHER SPOKESCANDIES ARE NOWHERE TO BE FOUND. MAYA RUDOLPH IS LOST. I REPEAT. MAYA RUDOLPH IS LOST https://t.co/Z0iDaXVvKu pic.twitter.com/2bQxwQzfxE
— cap'n jas (@portabible) January 23, 2023
Lisa Rinna is out of a second job this month https://t.co/C0HKyi8ORc pic.twitter.com/ldlrVuJFss
— Jennifer Epstein (@jeneps) January 23, 2023
Maya Rudolph pulling up to the Mars Candy HQ to speak to the CEO of M&Ms pic.twitter.com/p7poBua6Ry
— Hunter (@poshspicelatte) January 23, 2023
Our thoughts go out to the spokescandies https://t.co/ub8iPHCq5d
— SKITTLES (@Skittles) January 23, 2023
