M&Ms is anti pole dance

Webmaster · 2010-08-25T21:13:02+00:00

I rarely post but would like to take a few minutes to express frustration I experienced earlier today when trying to do something nice for my beautiful wife Veena. Before I get further in I will express that I believe that businesses should be allowed to operate as they believe best, but as consumers we reserve the right to protest their decisions as we see fit, this is my protest. Earlier today I decided that I was going to order Veena some nice custom M&Ms. I have used M&Ms customization service before and been quite pleased, this time however was different. I ordered M&Ms with the words happy birthday on them and the image below. Julie-Sillouhette copy.jpg The order went through just fine, however a half hour after placing the order I received an email stating that the M&M couldn't be printed because "this is a girl on a stripper pole it seems. cannot print a provocative image". I promptly called their customer service department and explained to the agent that my wife was a pole dancer, that there was nothing provocative about the move that she is doing and that it actually takes a significant amount of skill to perform that move. I also explained that it is not a stripper pole but instead a dance pole. The customer service agent then put me on hold to go talk to their art department. 5 minutes pass while I listen to elevator versions of classical music..... The customer service agent returns to tell me that unfortunately M&Ms Mars is a family oriented company that does not print anything a child can't see. I promptly asked "what about this image can a child not see" she explained that the image was of a girl on a stripper pole, I reinforced that it was not a stripper pole and that the many of the people on this site are moms and that as a sillouhette there is absolutely nothing that could be construed as offensive regardless of the content. She puts me back on hold to talk to their art department again. 5 more minutes pass while I listen to elevator versions…

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litlbit · 8/26/2010
I don't know about anyone else but I feel this is NEWS WORTHY!! Here is the e-mail for FOX news mailto:[email protected] It's boycott time on Mars M&M's!!
TrophyWife · 8/26/2010
I was thinking the same thing! News worthy!!
Maria-Elena Kadala · 8/26/2010
Now would be a good time to approach M&M about being a sponsor for the upcoming Pole event??? Since they do advertise with a pole? 😉 ALL the pole events should deluge them with requests for sponsorship! or maybe Ms Green could sponsor the Ms Sexy competition? We can have such fun with this!
Kilala · 8/26/2010
I forgot tho copy the email but i was pissed!!! My boyfriend sent one as well!
Kilala · 8/26/2010
not only to mars but to fox as well Good evening, I was hoping you would take interest and note a situation that has caused quite a stir in a very well know pole fitness community where the M&Ms company has disrespected greatly one of our instructors and we feel it is time to make a stand and for the world to recognize what it really is we do. We have sent dozens of complaints to the mars company but I believe they will not acknowledge us unless a bigger measure is taken and the world understands what it is we do and our fitness routine of choice that could be called gymnastics if you will. I am personally a member of studioveena.com Whose creators were directly affected by the situation. I leave you with this link that explains thoroughly what happened and appreciate your attention to the matter. (https://www.studioveena.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=4433&st=0&sk=t&sd=a) Ps in order to view the link someone must make an account to view but being for a just cause I don't think that should be a problem) Thank you for your time Ariana Chaparro, C/3C, AFROTC Charlie Flight Commander, Det 756 University of Puerto Rico at Mayaguez 787-546-2567
Kilala · 8/26/2010
message sent by my boyfriend To whom it may concern, I am sorely disappointed in Mars decision not to print personalized m&m's for Christopher Brand. Not only has the Mars Corporation promoted their green m&m's with questionable commercials that perhaps are not suitable for young veiwers but the Mars Corp. has alienated a group of men and women who could have brought you a lot of business. The silhouetted image you decided would not be suitable for your candies is an image of a women doing a beautiful, difficult advanced trick on a fitness pole. Please note I did not say "stripper pole." The lack of consideration shown to them as a community reflects poorly on your company. As Christopher tried to explain, they are not strippers, our images do not contain nudity and we will not be using your products in our studios or homes. And note I say THEY and WE because my girlfriend is also a pole fitness athlete ans she was deeply disappointed and hurt by this situation. As I fully support her and do not believe there is anything wrong or suggestive in her dancing. It is a beautiful and strong way of expression just like dancing and gymnastics. Why is it okay to produce a commercial with a green candy walking up to a pole and stripping off her green coating but an image of an athlete on a dance pole, which is just a piece of equipment, is unsuitable? If the said image were of a woman on a trapeze would you have questioned it? If it were just a silhouetted image of a woman would have denied the image? Why does the dance pole suddenly make what looks to be a gymnastic move inappropriate? I bet I could have sent a drawing of boobs for a bachelors party and you would have printed that right? And even if the image in question was provocative THIS IS A PERSONAL ORDER FOR HIS WIFE!! Customization means no one else can use your design and that no one else has to see it unless it is the buyers choice to show others. The woman who's image you denied is a professional trainer and has the most highly visited pole fitness website in the USA and likely worldwide. Her lessons are taken internationally by athletes. Several members of her website are like myself, competitive pole dancers, who do not wish to have our apparatus called a "stripper pole." She is highly revered in pole community and continues to influence the industry. The image in question would have reached this strong, beautiful, and talented woman and could have just melted in her mouth like your slogan goes but for your insolence and misinformed employees this has turned into a bitter situation for Mr. Christopher Brand AND his Wife Julie which can and Will bring other bigger consequences for your company. This is an outrage to our community. I do hope you will re-evaluate the situation and decide to print the candies. And even if you re-evaluated the damage has been done and no one will forget the narrow minded mentality of your company. They were meant to be a birthday present from a man who loves and cherishes his wife. Furthermore, failure to print these candies shows a community of athletes that our business is not important to your company and that the Mars Corporation finds the sport of pole fitness distasteful. I sincerely hope this story will have a happy ending.
Webmaster · 8/26/2010
Ok it is over. I received a call from the M&Ms Mars corporate office today, obviously your letters help because the discussion referenced facts that I hadn't covered in my conversations with them. They agreed that they had made the wrong decision initially and that people in their art department may need more training on how to properly accept or deny artwork. They agreed to print the M&Ms as originally ordered and have also agreed to do it free of charge. I want to say thank-you to all the Veeners out there who wrote and expressed your support on this issue which while small physically was a much bigger issue ideologically. Watch your inboxes for a chance to see the results. Also thank-you to the M&M Mars company for stepping up to bat and making this right.
Mary Ellyn · 8/26/2010
Wow! that's great! I'm glad they saw the other side and agreed to make the candies (and free too!) but what a bummer that Veena's surprise was ruined in the process! I wonder what sort of conversations were happening at the corporate offices today! LOL
tiggertail · 8/26/2010
Chris when you receive them could you take a picture and put it here so we can have proof 😉 Happy for you that it end well 🥂
Trena · 8/26/2010
I read this earlier today and didnt have time to reply! I am disgusted!!! Especially at the hypocrisy of the whole thing!!! To not print this gorgeous picture and then to add further insult by keeping referring to the pole as a 'stripper pole'! And then those green M&M ads!!!! HYPOCRISY!!! UGH!!! OH and then to try and pawn you off with the 'T' excuse!! Im furious!!! I LOVE the emails that people have sent! I only hope that my email is as well written!!! And I really really hope that the M&M company are really embarrassed!!! They should be!!! 😈
Danielle Tillie · 8/26/2010
VICTORY!!!! 🌈 🥂 😬 😁 😂
azriel · 8/27/2010
Oh i HATE that i'm away lately & always missing out on what's going on! I totally would've sent an email with my opinions had i known about this earlier! but anyways, i'm totally glad with the final outcome.. victory is sweeet!!!
TrophyWife · 8/27/2010
🥂 HOORAY! 🥂 We rock it!
Serzi · 8/27/2010
Polers are from Venus, candy is from Mars, laugh all you want but VICTORY IS OURS!!!
minicoopergrl · 8/27/2010
Polers are from Venus, candy is from Mars, laugh all you want but VICTORY IS OURS!!! love it! Great job everyone for their letters! A fail that became a win!
Serzi · 8/27/2010
Maybe it should be "Veeners are from Venus" lol.
litlbit · 8/27/2010
Polers are from Venus, candy is from Mars, laugh all you want but VICTORY IS OURS!!! LOVE IT!!! LOL
velvetvixen · 8/27/2010
🤔 Well the reference # was right at least....lol englann86 posted it on FB and I thought it was her that ordered the M&M's! I had a busy day so only got to check FB for a bit today and didnt get a chance to get on SV until now. I'm happy people sent emails and everything got resolved. Plus I'm sure the people M&M co. are now better educated! Go Veeners! Go Polers! Go Team! 🥂 🥂 🥂 Go Webmaster! 👑 That was such a sweet idea. 👍 ___ Please go to http://www.poletopia.com to take our survey, as we are a new upcoming company. Poletopia- unique products that embrace the spirit of pole! Show your pole love!
sosagely · 8/27/2010
😂 Don't mess with Veeners...or polers for that matter!!!
Maria Joao · 8/27/2010
I'm glad it all turn out well! 😎
Layla Duvay · 8/27/2010
*VICTORY DANCE* 🥂 🥂 🥂 ☀️ ☀️ ☀️ 😀 😀 😀 😂 😂 😂 👍 👍 🫡 🫡 🫡