Meta's Muse Mascot Jolly Became a Thirst Trap, and the Internet Can't Look Away

Meta wanted its new AI assistant to feel friendly, so Muse launched with a default mascot named Jolly, a round little character people are comparing to a Labubu crossed with a Squeezy dumpling toy. Then Alexandr Wang, head of Meta’s Superintelligence Labs, shared AI-generated memes that exaggerated Jolly’s curves. Users took it from there, flooding social media with thirsty posts and crowning the mascot a full-on thirst trap.

Wang addressed the frenzy with a post of his own:“Some of y’all way too thirsty for muse.”The timing made it messier, because Meta also rolled out Muse Charm, a feature that lets users customize the mascot’s appearance and voice. So while one camp was calling for calm, the other was busy making their Jolly however they pleased.

The whole thing raises a real question about how tech companies market AI. Cute characters build affection fast, but when the marketing leans suggestive, the reaction can overshadow the product itself. Was this genius engagement or a branding misfire?

So we need your vote: is Jolly cute, or is Jolly cringe? Sound off in the comments.