Conspiracy theorists who believe Mr. Peanut is still alive aren’t so nuts after all.
What’s going on: Mr. Peanut — the loveable mascot for the Planters brand — passed away earlier this week in a Super Bowl advertisement.
- In the ad, Mr. Peanut and two other men — played by actors Matt Walsh and Wesley Snipes — get into a car accident and are forced onto a branch. They hang off it. Mr. Peanut decides to sacrifice himself since the branch can’t hold all three of them.
- On Wednesday, social media went ablaze with worry, concern and comedy about Mr. Peanut’s death.
- Mr. Peanut Estate — which is now the name of the Mr. Peanut Twitter account — asked for everyone to share their warm memories of Mr. Peanut through the hashtag #RIPeanut.
Really dead?: But Mr. Peanut may not be dead. Advertising expert Edward Russell said in a statement to the Deseret News that his death is “likely only chapter one” in the story.
- Russell, an associate professor of advertising in the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University, said in a statement to the Deseret News that his death — and a funeral — would be a great way to get people talking about Planters peanuts again.
- Russell: “Will it sell more peanuts? I’ll bet it does. But is it wise to kill off a 104-year-old icon like Mr. Peanut?”
- Russell: “Or … is that the end of the story? I could imagine loads of follow-up scenarios. The next major holiday in America is Easter ... he could rise from the dead. Or, how do we know Mr. Peanut doesn’t have a Mrs. Peanut and maybe some macadamia nuts on the side? Does he have younger, hipper proteges roaming Peanutland? Maybe. Stay tuned ... this is likely only chapter 1.”
View Comments
What’s next: The next ad for Mr. Peanut is for a funeral, which is expected to air during the Super Bowl.