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'A publicity stunt': Internet divided as M&M'S pauses ‘spokescandies,’ replaces them with Maya Rudolph

Social media users have criticised M&M's after the company replaced the spokescandies with an ad campaign to be led by Maya Rudolph

HACKETTSTOWN, NEW JERSEY: M&M Mars has temporarily paused its M&M's 'spokescandies' following a row of backlash since its brand changed in 2022. Social media has been divided after the company replaced the spokescandies with an advertisement campaign to be led by Maya Rudolph, the Saturday Night Live veteran. With minor changes to the design of green M&M, the brand appeared with another change introducing a purple M&M 'spokescandy' in 2022.  Earlier this month, the company also came up with an all-female packaging promotion.

However, the new ad campaign is assumed to be a Super Bowl commercial in accordance with its timing. On Monday, January 23, M&M took to Twitter to announce its new advertisement campaign. The brand tweeted, "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 polarizing. Which was the last thing M&M's wanted since we're all about bringing people together." In the statement, the brand added, "Therefore, we have decided to take an indefinite pause from the spokescandies. In their place, we are proud to introduce a new spokesperson America can agree on: the beloved Maya Rudolph. We are confident Ms. Rudolph will champion the power of fun to create a world where everyone feels they belong."

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The statement on the indefinite pausing of the famous characters appeared to be referring to conservative political commentator Tucker Carlson's comment against the candy brand's making of the character, complaining that changing the character's footwear made them "less sexy," according to Forbes.

'Is Maya Rudolph an M&M now?'

M&M's new advertisement campaign fronted by Maya Rudolph replacing the famed 'spokescandies' have led netizens puzzled at the brand's decision. One social media user wrote, "This is absolutely pathetic, @mmschocolate. You're backing down from Tucker Carlson because he was sexually confused about your candy?!," while another wrote, "Woke marketing doesn't work the way companies want it to."

"So you did something terribly offensive, and your response is to erase something that was previously broadly acceptable? I accept your peace offering of Maya Rudolph. But that doesn't change that what you did was wrong," a user tweeted and another remarked, "This is worse than the woke spokescandies. Stop trying so hard," while someone wrote, "I won’t be buying M&Ms until you bring back the spokescandies you cowards"

Pointing out that the campaign is a Super Bowl commercial, one user opined, "I'm guessing they're doing a publicity stunt in the lead-up to Super Bowl ads. Maya Rudolph and the talking M&Ms will all be in a commercial together making fun of the "controversy," and another wrote, "I don’t understand…is Maya Rudolph an M&M now???"

"I love Maya Rudolph. ...but I don't think this was necessary. At all. There's no replacement for the spokescandies," a user remarked and another wrote, "Who made them think Maya Rudolph was a good idea instead of a candy," while someone tweeted, "I hope so. As much as I love Maya Rudolph, I am deeply saddened to see my favorite spokescandies go."

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.