TheQuartering [9/29/2022]
Earlier this year, Mars shocked the internet when it unveiled new looks for its M&M’S characters. Gone were Green’s iconic go-go boots, replaced by sneakers. Online, mayhem ensued.
Now, M&M’S is making another, bigger change — this time, it’s adding a brand new character to the mix. Meet Purple: She’s peanut, she sings, and she doesn’t wear high heels (she sports lace-up boots).
The purple peanut M&M is the first new character in 10 years, according to the brand.
“Purple has been in the works for a very long time, for years,” said Jane Hwang, Global Vice President of M&M’S. “This was about ensuring that the entire crew, the entire cast of spokescandies, were reflecting the world that we’re living in.”
Purple has a specific personality — quirky, confident and just a little awkward. Her debut comes with a song, “I’m Just Gonna Be Me,” which can be seen in a video online and streamed on platforms including Spotify and Apple Music.
This doesn’t mean that a purple M&M is coming to bags of Peanut M&M’S, however.
The new character will appear in stores, on the M&M’S website and on some limited edition packaging, said Hwang. And customers will be able to buy purple M&M’S online, an option that was already available. But when it comes to a regular bag of peanut M&M’S, purple fans are out of luck.
That could be a new source of outrage.
In the mid-90s, people voted for blue to replace tan in bags of the candy. In 2002, M&M’S once again asked people to vote, this time for a color that would be added for just a limited time. Purple won, but didn’t stick around for long.
Online, people frequently ask why there are no purple M&M’S. Some bemoan the missed opportunity in the 1990s to make purple a permanent addition to the lineup. Some even think the vote was rigged.
Still, the new character, while not an actual new candy, is an acknowledgment from M&M’S that people are pining for purple.
“We’ve heard for a long time that purple is certainly a consumer favorite,” said Hwang.