The Office’s Creed Bratton dodges social obligations with mouthfuls of Skittles
The ‘MFFLP The Rainbow’ campaign (pronounced “mah-fulp”) offers a tasty and playful way to stay speechless with Skittles.
Canadians know that summer can be a socially draining season, rife with gatherings and events.
Skittles Canada, a Mars Wrigley brand known for its playful marketing, has teamed up with Creed Bratton from The Office in an ad campaign that launched Monday, ‘MFFLP The Rainbow’ (pronounced “mah-fulp,” the sound you make when speaking with a mouthful of Skittles).
The work provides an absurd excuse to dodge unwanted social interactions, whether it’s an awkward chat with a nosy neighbor or avoiding the “drinks after work?” on a Friday evening: responding while your mouth is full of Skittles.
Bratton, known for his lackadaisical work habits in The Office, stars in a mockumentary-style video in this new campaign, in which he demonstrates the art of ‘MFFLP The Rainbow,’ and his unconventional way of avoiding social situations.
“As a brand, Skittles stands for playful escapism and the joy of unexpected moments. This summer, we’re embracing our mission by offering Gen-Z an even weirder solution for the busy summer season,’” said Patrick Zeng, marketing director of Mars Wrigley Canada, in a statement shared with The Drum. ”By delivering gloriously ridiculous diversions like ‘MFFLP The Rainbow,’ Skittles aims to leave consumers feeling pleasantly perplexed, provoking a “wait...what?!” sense of share-worthy stimulation that bends expected conventions and perspectives.”
The campaign is informed by online forums, which reveal unique Skittles consumption habits: sorting by color, enjoying in pairs, saving the reds for last and, most notably, consuming Skittles by the handful. Leveraging this insight, the ad offers Gen Z a fun way to escape social obligations: muffling their responses with handfuls of the candy.
The campaign will be featured on Creed’s and Skittles’ social channels, including TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat. It also includes influencer partnerships, where creators will show how they incorporate MFFLP The Rainbow into their own lives.
For those looking for a summer escape, the brand invites consumers to visit skittlesooo.ca for a custom Skittles-infused out-of-office message. Participants will be entered to win a grand prize of up to $10,000 for a summer getaway.
Middle Child, the brand’s PR agency, led the project.
Interested in creative campaigns? Check out our Ad of the Day section and sign up for our Ads of the Week newsletter so you don’t miss a story.