M&Ms Is Replacing Animated Spokescandies With Maya Rudolph For Super Bowl Ad, And The Internet Isn't Handling Things Well

Cinema Blend ^ | 1/23/23 | Mick Joest

[Libloather]

For decades, the animated M&M's candy mascots dominated small screen ads. Whether they're fainting from seeing Santa, griping about each other in board meetings, or trying to disable a rocket, the multi-colored characters are used to bringing their shenanigans to audiences at large. This might be why so many people were immediately up in arms after the company announced the iconic spokescandies are being replaced by comedy queen Maya Rudolph for an upcoming Super Bowl ad, saying it's all an effort to sidestep past controversies.

News of Maya Rudolph's partnership with the M&M's brand came via a statement from the company that was shared on Instagram. The message explaining the surprising switch-up alluded to consumer reactions to various changes made to the characters in recent years, such as the Green M&M's design changing to tone down perceived-as-sexual details, as well as the introduction of the Purple M&M. According to the press release, the company is putting the mascots on an "indefinite pause" and opting to move forward with Rudolph in their place. It all seem a bit too tongue in cheek to be real, and yet...

While appearing on Today, Rudolph teased that "lots of fun" will be had in regards to the upcoming Super Bowl ad, and shared how she felt to be the brand's "Chief of Fun" spokesperson, saying:

"It’s a very fun pairing if I do say so myself. I think little Maya would be thrilled to get to work with M&M’s."

[GOPJ]

That wasn’t all...