No opinion here. I had to look it up on youtube because I don't remember ever seeing the commercial in either form. I found a funny video based on the new version of the ad. The best part is the quote in one of the comments below: "If you or a loved were injured by the 2020 Hershey's Kisses Holiday commercial you may be entitled to financial compensation."

This is what I think about when I think of classic Christmas ads. Its been unchanged for a very long time (hopefully):

Wow. I see nothing even mildly disturbing in this commercial let alone "seriously disturbing".

People need to just chill. If you sit looking at the clouds in the sky passing by, each one can be interpreted to look like something. Everything you say can be interpreted by someone with an agenda in the opposite way it is intended. I learned this more than a few times earlier in life when breaking up with a girlfriend; if something could be interpreted completely different than I had intended it and taken as an outrage, it always would be.

Taking things on face value is best rather than always looking for dog whistles that most likely are not there. For instance the OP in this thread clearly stated "why mess with perfection" and no mention of anything to do with the added content. Obviously there is a sentimental attachment to this commercial in its original form and ANY change was not welcome regardless of content.