diff --git a/res/css/views/audio_messages/_PlaybackContainer.scss b/res/css/views/audio_messages/_PlaybackContainer.scss
index 773fc50fb9..3886e38583 100644
--- a/res/css/views/audio_messages/_PlaybackContainer.scss
+++ b/res/css/views/audio_messages/_PlaybackContainer.scss
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ limitations under the License.
             &.mx_Waveform_bar_100pct {
                 // Small animation to remove the mechanical feel of progress
                 transition: background-color 250ms ease;
-                background-color: $message-body-panel-fg-color;
+                background-color: $secondary-content;
             }
         }
     }
diff --git a/res/css/views/dialogs/_InviteDialog.scss b/res/css/views/dialogs/_InviteDialog.scss
index b1de9c8c37..a753115614 100644
--- a/res/css/views/dialogs/_InviteDialog.scss
+++ b/res/css/views/dialogs/_InviteDialog.scss
@@ -395,7 +395,7 @@ limitations under the License.
     left: -24px;
     padding-left: 24px;
     padding-right: 24px;
-    border-top: 1px solid $message-body-panel-bg-color;
+    border-top: 1px solid $quinary-content;
 
     display: flex;
     flex-direction: row;
diff --git a/res/css/views/dialogs/_SpaceSettingsDialog.scss b/res/css/views/dialogs/_SpaceSettingsDialog.scss
index a1fa9d52a8..e26e4f8b49 100644
--- a/res/css/views/dialogs/_SpaceSettingsDialog.scss
+++ b/res/css/views/dialogs/_SpaceSettingsDialog.scss
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ limitations under the License.
         }
 
         & + .mx_SettingsTab_subheading {
-            border-top: 1px solid $message-body-panel-bg-color;
+            border-top: 1px solid $quinary-content;
             margin-top: 0;
             padding-top: 24px;
         }
diff --git a/res/css/views/messages/_MFileBody.scss b/res/css/views/messages/_MFileBody.scss
index d941a8132f..e23696e6a9 100644
--- a/res/css/views/messages/_MFileBody.scss
+++ b/res/css/views/messages/_MFileBody.scss
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ limitations under the License.
     cursor: pointer;
 
     .mx_MFileBody_info_icon {
-        background-color: $message-body-panel-icon-bg-color;
+        background-color: $system;
         border-radius: 20px;
         display: inline-block;
         width: 32px;
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ limitations under the License.
             mask-position: center;
             mask-size: cover;
             mask-image: url('$(res)/img/element-icons/room/composer/attach.svg');
-            background-color: $message-body-panel-icon-fg-color;
+            background-color: $secondary-content;
             width: 15px;
             height: 15px;
 
diff --git a/res/css/views/messages/_MediaBody.scss b/res/css/views/messages/_MediaBody.scss
index 7f4bfd3fdc..874de05c71 100644
--- a/res/css/views/messages/_MediaBody.scss
+++ b/res/css/views/messages/_MediaBody.scss
@@ -18,11 +18,11 @@ limitations under the License.
 // have unique styles).
 
 .mx_MediaBody {
-    background-color: $message-body-panel-bg-color;
+    background-color: $quinary-content;
     border-radius: 12px;
     max-width: 243px; // use max-width instead of width so it fits within right panels
 
-    color: $message-body-panel-fg-color;
+    color: $secondary-content;
     font-size: $font-14px;
     line-height: $font-24px;
 
diff --git a/res/themes/dark/css/_dark.scss b/res/themes/dark/css/_dark.scss
index bf65af69e3..f012dff0a1 100644
--- a/res/themes/dark/css/_dark.scss
+++ b/res/themes/dark/css/_dark.scss
@@ -208,16 +208,11 @@ $tooltip-timeline-fg-color: $primary-content;
 
 $breadcrumb-placeholder-bg-color: #272c35;
 
-$message-body-panel-fg-color: $secondary-content;
-$message-body-panel-bg-color: $quinary-content;
-$message-body-panel-icon-bg-color: $system;
-$message-body-panel-icon-fg-color: $secondary-content;
-
 $voice-record-stop-border-color: $quaternary-content;
 $voice-record-waveform-incomplete-fg-color: $quaternary-content;
 $voice-record-icon-color: $quaternary-content;
-$voice-playback-button-bg-color: $message-body-panel-icon-bg-color;
-$voice-playback-button-fg-color: $message-body-panel-icon-fg-color;
+$voice-playback-button-bg-color: $system;
+$voice-playback-button-fg-color: $secondary-content;
 
 // Appearance tab colors
 $appearance-tab-border-color: $room-highlight-color;
diff --git a/res/themes/legacy-dark/css/_legacy-dark.scss b/res/themes/legacy-dark/css/_legacy-dark.scss
index f4dbc25f8f..bed1e9c661 100644
--- a/res/themes/legacy-dark/css/_legacy-dark.scss
+++ b/res/themes/legacy-dark/css/_legacy-dark.scss
@@ -204,11 +204,6 @@ $tooltip-timeline-fg-color: #ffffff;
 
 $breadcrumb-placeholder-bg-color: #272c35;
 
-$message-body-panel-fg-color: $secondary-fg-color;
-$message-body-panel-bg-color: #394049;
-$message-body-panel-icon-fg-color: $secondary-fg-color;
-$message-body-panel-icon-bg-color: #21262C;
-
 // See non-legacy dark for variable information
 $voice-record-stop-border-color: #6F7882;
 $voice-record-waveform-incomplete-fg-color: #6F7882;
diff --git a/res/themes/legacy-light/css/_legacy-light.scss b/res/themes/legacy-light/css/_legacy-light.scss
index 92ff4ec722..2ce5b6062c 100644
--- a/res/themes/legacy-light/css/_legacy-light.scss
+++ b/res/themes/legacy-light/css/_legacy-light.scss
@@ -328,19 +328,14 @@ $tooltip-timeline-fg-color: #ffffff;
 
 $breadcrumb-placeholder-bg-color: #e8eef5;
 
-$message-body-panel-fg-color: $secondary-fg-color;
-$message-body-panel-bg-color: #E3E8F0;
-$message-body-panel-icon-fg-color: $secondary-fg-color;
-$message-body-panel-icon-bg-color: $system;
-
 // See non-legacy _light for variable information
 $voice-record-stop-symbol-color: #ff4b55;
 $voice-record-live-circle-color: #ff4b55;
 $voice-record-stop-border-color: #E3E8F0;
 $voice-record-waveform-incomplete-fg-color: #C1C6CD;
 $voice-record-icon-color: $tertiary-fg-color;
-$voice-playback-button-bg-color: $message-body-panel-icon-bg-color;
-$voice-playback-button-fg-color: $message-body-panel-icon-fg-color;
+$voice-playback-button-bg-color: $system;
+$voice-playback-button-fg-color: $secondary-content;
 
 // FontSlider colors
 $appearance-tab-border-color: $input-darker-bg-color;
diff --git a/res/themes/light/css/_light.scss b/res/themes/light/css/_light.scss
index ac19174b77..26cd1766c1 100644
--- a/res/themes/light/css/_light.scss
+++ b/res/themes/light/css/_light.scss
@@ -328,11 +328,6 @@ $tooltip-timeline-fg-color: $background;
 
 $breadcrumb-placeholder-bg-color: #e8eef5;
 
-$message-body-panel-fg-color: $secondary-content;
-$message-body-panel-bg-color: $quinary-content;
-$message-body-panel-icon-bg-color: $system;
-$message-body-panel-icon-fg-color: $secondary-content;
-
 // These two don't change between themes. They are the $warning-color, but we don't
 // want custom themes to affect them by accident.
 $voice-record-stop-symbol-color: #ff4b55;
@@ -341,8 +336,8 @@ $voice-record-live-circle-color: #ff4b55;
 $voice-record-stop-border-color: $quinary-content;
 $voice-record-waveform-incomplete-fg-color: $quaternary-content;
 $voice-record-icon-color: $tertiary-content;
-$voice-playback-button-bg-color: $message-body-panel-icon-bg-color;
-$voice-playback-button-fg-color: $message-body-panel-icon-fg-color;
+$voice-playback-button-bg-color: $system;
+$voice-playback-button-fg-color: $secondary-content;
 
 // FontSlider colors
 $appearance-tab-border-color: $input-darker-bg-color;