The candy brand M&M’s has decided to stop using its well-known multicolored chocolate chip characters after criticism from the conservative right in the United States, which sees them as politicized.
The controversy with the launch, in September, of a new member of the family of “spokescandies” (candy spokespersons), named Purple (violet), who became the group’s third female character, after Green (green) and Brown ( brown), created, according to M&M’s, “to represent acceptance and inclusion”.
However, the color violet in the United States often symbolizes support for the LGBTQ community and the expression of homosexuality, which was not accepted by internet users and far-right politicians, who accused the M&M manufacturer Mars Wrigley of politicizing candy. .
According to critics, the characters of the M&M became “woke”, an English word used in the United States to denote activism against all forms of discrimination and exclusion related to one or more minorities.
The controversy resurfaced in early January with the sale of a special limited edition packaging, which exclusively includes the three colors of the female characters: green, brown and purple.
“Woke M&Ms are back,” Tucker Carlson, one of the main presenters, protested Fox newsknown for the conservative views of some of its best-known professionals.
Ironically, Carlson said that Green was “possibly lesbian” and Purple was “overweight”, referring to their oval shape, similar to that of peanut-filled M&M’s.
A year ago, Carlson criticized the M&Ms for replacing Green’s white boots with sneakers, making him “less sexy.”
On Monday, the M&Ms referenced the topic on Twitter. “America, let’s talk. Over the past year we’ve made some changes to our beloved spokespersons. We weren’t sure anyone could handle it. And we certainly didn’t think it would affect the internet. But now we realize: Even the shoes of a candy cane can cause polarization. That was the last thing the M&Ms wanted, because our goal is to bring people together,” reads.
A message from M&M’S. pic.twitter.com/EMucEBTd9o
– M&M’S (@mmschocolate) January 23, 2023
The company reported that it decided to suspend the characters due to the controversy.
The dolls are therefore replaced in the new advertising campaigns by actress and comedian Maya Rudolph. “We are confident that Ms. Rudolph will champion the power of fun to create a world that everyone feels part of,” concluded M&M’s.
Source: DN
