The Michelin Man goes on a diet Sadly, it looks like the Michelin Man has fallen prey to body-image issues and will soon reveal his slimmed-down body to audiences throughout the world. A story in Scotland’s Daily Record quotes Michelin’s U.K. marketing director on the topic of the new, thinner Michelin Man: “We've slimmed him down because it shows the evolution of people and is a way of keeping up with changes in society.” In addition to the usual marketing-director bombast, doesn’t that quote contain a bit of wishful thinking? Is mankind really getting thinner? Well, let’s move on. Allegedly, the new Michelin Man has already launched in the Far East, though minutes of in-depth research on Michelin’s Asian Web sites revealed no such slimmer icon. On the other hand, the image above, pulled from Michelin.com, suggests that maybe he really should consider holding back on the Doritos. —Posted by Catharine P. Taylor

February 16, 2007 | Permalink

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Comments

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Great, I guess now Botero is gonna have to slim down his statues.

Everything in the name of thinness. Hitler would be proud.

Posted by: Jerry | Feb 16, 2007 10:27:05 AM

Does that mean people will want slimmer tires on their cars as well? Thinner rubber products regardless of safety issues?

Come on, unless blatantly offensive, ad mascots don't need updating. If things are suffering, just retire the mascot and try something new.

Posted by: urban bohemian | Feb 16, 2007 11:16:52 AM

What the heck is the Michelin Man anyhow? Someone said he was made of innertubes. Tires haven't needed innertubes since the late 40's and they were black in color. Perhaps an entirely new icon should be introduced.

Posted by: Tubeless Tim | Mar 27, 2007 2:49:30 AM

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