M&M Characters Are Getting A Modern Makeover To Increase Global Sense Of Belonging

In a somewhat confusing update from candy world, the candy company Mars has announced that the cast of iconic M&Ms characters will be given a modern makeover to reflect a "more dynamic, progressive world" with character updates to focus on their "personalities, rather than their gender."

orange will acknowledge his anxiety pic.twitter.com/hNmcRbrwtX

— Nathan Allebach (@nathanallebach) January 20, 2022

Yes, the cast of M&Ms, staples of the candy's ads for decades, are moving away from their antagonistic ways and becoming a tighter group of friends. For some people, this means their worst fear is confirmed: the Green M&M will no longer be sexy.

Instead, she will become a friendlier sort of gal, "better represented to reflect confidence and empowerment, as a strong female, and known for much more than her boots." A promotional script from the M&Ms website finds the Green M&M describing herself as "a hypewoman for my friends." Her key quote is "I’m too busy shining to throw shade."

Other changes include the Red M&M will be kinder, the Brown M&M will embrace the girlboss lifestyle, and, perhaps weirdest of all, the Orange M&M will "acknowledge his anxiety." Mars says the Orange M&M is "one of the most relatable characters with Gen-Z," as Gen Z is the "most anxious generation."

Why is this happening? Well, as Mars puts it, they wish to showcase their "global commitment to creating a world where everyone feels they belong and society is inclusive." They hope that they can "increase the sense of belonging for 10 million people around the world by 2025." One wonders if the yassification of the M&Ms will achieve their goals.

As one might expect, the upcoming woke M&Ms, as some jokesters dubbed them online, provided quite a bit of chatter on Twitter.

thank you m&ms for standing for progressive values. from now on I will only eat the gay ones

— Emma Berquist (@eeberquist) January 20, 2022

I will not tolerate a world where the M&Ms are woke.

— Mr. Timeline 👍 (@GarbageApe) January 20, 2022

don't worry folks, they won't be changing the core element of M&Ms mythos: the implication that they feed on each other for sustenance https://t.co/9AYZ1s1AS3 pic.twitter.com/pRLHCNa9Pe

— Dave Itzkoff (@ditzkoff) January 20, 2022

(Said with the desperation of losing a loved one) M&Ms has gone woke

— mike (getting worried) (@aniceburrito) January 20, 2022

It remains to be seen if the M&Ms' redesign will have greater ramifications on the candy industry. Perhaps Reese's will stop playing those weirdly antagonistic ads.