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M&M’s Reignites Online Drama After Tucker Carlson’s Barbs

  • New spokesperson Maya Rudolph to appear in Super Bowl ads
  • Changes to mascots in 2022 sparked conservative media backlash

M&M's candy characters at the M&M's World store in London

Photographer: Chris Ratcliffe/Bloomberg 

A surprise announcement by Mars Inc. that it’s suspending “spokescandies” — talking M&M’s that star in the brand’s advertisements — is sparking speculation over whether it’s a reaction to conservative furor or a cheeky set-up for a Super Bowl ad.

Changes to the talking M&M’s early last year aimed at making them more inclusive prompted some conservatives, including Fox News commentator Tucker Carlson, to criticize the brand for being “woke.” The brouhaha — which played out largely on social media — soon faded.