Don’t try to hunt for M&M’s at the candy counter: Starting today, you’re shopping for Ma & Ya’s. after few days Her popular — and unexpectedly divisive — spokespeople are retiring, The world-famous candy brand has also retired its world-famous name. New spokeswoman Maya Rudolph revealed the switch in a video ad that premiered online Thursday.
“Since we all love M&M’s—and let’s face it, me—it only makes sense that I would rebrand America’s favorite chocolate candy as Ma & Ya’s,” Saturday Night Live Naseer says in the 15-second spot. Rudolph goes on to reveal the personal reason for this particular change: “It’s a play on my name.” (See ad above).
This isn’t the only change Rudolph has made since the Red, Yellow, Purple and the rest of the animated speakers have been kicked to the curb. Ma & Ya will both feature its face in place of the traditional “M” that defined the M&M era.
“I love M&M’s and you and me love me,” Rudolph said in another recent online ad. “That’s why I’m excited to announce that soon America’s favorite chocolate candy will have a picture really painted on it.”
Life moves pretty fast in the candy world: Rudolph was only announced as the spokesperson for the new M&M’s on Monday, a change that followed conservative media-led complaints about updated designs for the talking spokes. Fox News host Tucker Carlson was particularly concerned about the brand’sFresh and modernon characters, Apparently complaining about that women’s candy – purple, green, brown – lacks sex appeal.
Although social media critics blamed Carlson for changing M&M’s selection, a brand spokesperson told Yahoo Entertainment that the Rudolph-led campaign has been in the works for some time. “It is not a reaction but rather a support for our M&M brand, which we will always continue to evolve to bring people together through the power of fun.”
The spokesperson also confirms that this week’s ads refer to M&M’s Super Bowl campaign kicking off — something that was widely suspected on Twitter. This means that viewers can expect to see a TV spot led by Rudolph among the many star-studded ads set during Fox’s telecast of Super Bowl LVII on February 12.
Meanwhile, spokespeople for supposed retirees are busy elsewhere. Orange has dropped the Spotify playlistWhile Yellow moves to Instagram to try to become the new face of Snickers. And we expect to see more unexpected candy-related cameos as the Super Bowl approaches. “The original cast of color of M&M spokespeople are, nowadays, pursuing personal passion,” says an M&M spokesperson. “Check out M&M’s spokespeople for the next few weeks before, during, and after Super Bowl LV.”
As further evidence that Ma & Ya’s shelf life is short, the brand is channeling fans to his official site To purchase a limited-run supply before the Super Bowl. Based on Twitter’s reaction, it looks like there will be some takers, though not everyone shares the joke.
Super Bowl LVII airs February 12 on Fox