Non-binary Bonbons? Or Just Chocolate? M&M Spokescandies Say Farewell

On Monday, the beloved M&M’s spokescandies, which had been the face of M&M’s for years, said one final goodbye. The candy company will be abandoning their colorful mascots because they are too “polarizing” for Americans to handle.

“Which was the last thing M&M’S wanted since we’re all about bringing people together,” said M&M’s in their statement, apologizing for changing their candy’s accessories.

“But now we get it – even a candy’s shoes can be polarizing.”

The company announced they would be moving in a new direction. Pausing the spokescandies and changing them for actress Maya Rudolph. Someone the brand said “America can agree on.” 

The chocolate characters didn’t say anything controversial, but became the focus of partisan backlash after the brand made a number of stylistic tweaks to its cast to be more inclusive, as reported by Time. 

The controversy behind what type of shoes a chocolate candy should wear, got the attention of right-wing commentators, like Fox News host Tucker Carlson, who devoted time during multiple segments to criticize the popular candy for being “Woke.”

“M&M’s will not be satisfied until every last cartoon character is deeply unappealing and totally androgynous until the moment when you wouldn’t want to have a drink with any one of them,” Carlson remarked on Fox. “That’s the goal. When you’re totally turned off, we’ve achieved equity. They’ve won.”

In January 2022, the brand replaced the green M&M’s knee-high boots with flats and swapped the brown M&M’s stilettos for lower heels. Later the brand did something to spark even more backlash, they introduced a new purple character, and added it to a limited edition all-female character branded pack.

“Woke M&M’s have returned,” Carlson declared on his show in mid-January. “The green M&M’s got her boots back but apparently is now a lesbian, maybe, and there is also a plus-sized, obese purple M&M. So we’re going to cover that, of course. Because that’s what we do.”

Fox News host Greg Gutfeld also chipped in saying he didn’t want to have to wonder what M&M shape best represented his identity.

“When I eat a bag of M&M’s, do I wonder which color and shape best represents my identity? No, because it’s f—ing chocolate,” Gutfeld said in January 2022. “If you really truly want to make an M&M feel like they belong, you probably shouldn’t be eating them. I mean, what kind of message does it send to children when you devour these non-binary bonbons?”

Thanks to polarized America, you can catch the new M&M spokesperson, Ms.Rudolph, representing the brand in a Super Bowl ad on Feb. 12.

If you wish to save the green M&M you can join 20,000 people signing an online petition to “keep the green M&M sexy.”