The brand said in a tweet Monday that it “definitely didn’t think it would break the internet. But now we get it — even a candy’s shoes can be polarizing.”
After controversy following its mascot refresh last year, M&M’s announced Monday it is taking an “indefinite pause” from using its candy-coated mascots, saying the “last thing M&M’s wanted” was to be “polarizing.”
M&M’s said in a tweet that it is instead tapping actor Maya Rudolph as its spokesperson, someone the brand said “America can agree on.”
Mars Inc., the parent company of M&M’s, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Representatives for Rudolph did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
M&M’s “spokescandies” have provoked the ire of right-wing outlets like Fox News in recent weeks after the company announced a new “Flip the Status Quo“ campaign. The campaign raised money to support women in creative industries and featured limited-edition candy bags with the three female spokescandies.
Fox News host Tucker Carlson railed against “woke M&Ms” in a recent broadcast. He made similar complaints about the candies last January after M&M’s announced a new, inclusive look.
In its statement on Monday, M&M’s said it “definitely didn’t think it would break the internet.”
“But now we get it — even a candy’s shoes can be polarizing,” the brand wrote. “Which is the last thing M&M’s wanted since we’re all about bringing people together.”
The brand said it is “confident” that Rudolph “will champion the power of fun to create a world where everyone feels like they belong.”