How M&Ms went from a wartime treat to playing a starring role in the culture wars

M&Ms have been popular among consumers since World War II. Now, the brand is making Maya Rudolph its new spokesperson.Spencer Platt/Getty Images

• M&Ms is making Maya Rudolph its spokesperson, sidelining its talking candy mascots.
• The "spokescandies" have been the face of the candy brand for almost three decades.

A big change came to M&Ms on Monday: Actress and former SNL cast member Maya Rudolph is replacing the brand's crew of animated chocolate candies, which it calls "spokescandies," as its face.

Rudolph will be "chief of fun" at M&Ms, the brand tweeted on Monday. In a separate tweet earlier in the day, the brand said she would become its spokesperson, with the spokescandies going on "an indefinite pause." Right-wing commentators had previously criticized a change in shoe style that M&Ms made to one of the anthropomorphic candies last year.

M&Ms is among the oldest candy brands in the US, and its talking candies are relatively recent additions. Here's a brief history of the round, colorful candies.