Two weeks after introducing all-female packaging, and a year after changing the footwear and personalities of its “spokescandies,” M&M’s is dropping their animated mascots.
On Monday, M&M’s posted on Twitter, “In the last year, we’ve made some changes to our beloved spokescandies. We weren’t sure if anyone would even notice. And we didn’t think it would break the internet. But now we get it — even a candy’s shoes can be polarizing. Which was the last thing M&M’s wanted since we’re all about bringing people together.”
The company said that the spokescandies are now on “indefinite pause.”
A message from M&M'S. pic.twitter.com/EMucEBTd9o
— M&M'S (@mmschocolate) January 23, 2023
The company changes to the iconic characters last year, including personalities and footwear. Green had previously worn go-go boots, which were changed to sneakers. Brown used to wear stilettos, which were swapped out for shorter heels.
Red used to be a bully but became more kind to the other characters, CBS News reported last year. The plan for orange was to “embrace his true self, worries and all” since he had been shown to have an anxious personality, the company said last year.
Earlier this month, M&M’s produced packages that featured only the female characters — Brown, Purple and Green — flipped upside down to “celebrate women everywhere who are flipping the status quo,” CNN reported.
But not everyone accepted the packaging. More than 20,000 people signed a Change.org petition to “keep the green M&M sexy,” CNN reported.
Maya Rudolph will now be the new face of M&M’s, the “Today” show reported.
Appearing on Monday’s “Today” show, the actor and comedian said, “I’m thrilled to be working with M&M’s. I am a lifelong lover of the candy and I feel like it’s such an honor to be asked to be part of such a legendary brand’s campaign.”
Rudolph will be featured in the candy brand’s Super Bowl ad Feb. 12.
She said the campaign will be full of “lots of fun” moments.
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