# Is Planters really getting rid of Mr. Peanut? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 28, 2020, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-planters-really-getting-rid-of-mr-peanut/847130 "2020-01-28T21:52:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![DaveRaver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/daveraver/32/1078_2.png) [@DaveRaver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DaveRaver)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2020, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-planters-really-getting-rid-of-mr-peanut/847130/1 "2020-01-28T21:52:55Z")
Are they really discontinuing their 100+ year old mascot? Or is the demise of Mr. Peanut a publicity stunt like “IHOB”? ---
**Author:** ![TubaDiva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tubadiva/32/507_2.png) [@TubaDiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TubaDiva)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2020, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-planters-really-getting-rid-of-mr-peanut/847130/2 "2020-01-28T21:58:56Z")
Apparently he got a reprieve. Or maybe not. [https://www.weau.com/content/news/Mr-Peanut-ad-campaign-on-hold-after-Kobe-Bryants-death-567365511.html](https://www.weau.com/content/news/Mr-Peanut-ad-campaign-on-hold-after-Kobe-Bryants-death-567365511.html) Jenny your humble TubaDiva ---
**Author:** ![TubaDiva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tubadiva/32/507_2.png) [@TubaDiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TubaDiva)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2020, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-planters-really-getting-rid-of-mr-peanut/847130/3 "2020-01-28T21:59:59Z")
Apparently he got a reprieve. Or maybe not. [https://www.weau.com/content/news/Mr-Peanut-ad-campaign-on-hold-after-Kobe-Bryants-death-567365511.html](https://www.weau.com/content/news/Mr-Peanut-ad-campaign-on-hold-after-Kobe-Bryants-death-567365511.html) Jenny your humble TubaDiva ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2020, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-planters-really-getting-rid-of-mr-peanut/847130/4 "2020-01-28T23:41:13Z")
I learned today that Mr. Peanut has a full name rarely used. It is Bartholomew Richard Fitzgerald-Smythe. Apparently “Mr. Peanut” is simply a monicker. > Yes, he has an official, verified Twitter account, because why wouldn’t he? ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2020, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-planters-really-getting-rid-of-mr-peanut/847130/5 "2020-01-28T23:59:14Z")
““Mr. Peanut” is simply a monicker.” Totally appropriate for [a guy who wears a monocle](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mr._Peanut). ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2020, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-planters-really-getting-rid-of-mr-peanut/847130/6 "2020-01-29T13:36:33Z")
> [@Squink](#): > > ““Mr. Peanut” is simply a monicker.” > > Totally appropriate for [a guy who wears a monocle](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mr._Peanut). OTOH, he’s not a monocot. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2020, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-planters-really-getting-rid-of-mr-peanut/847130/7 "2020-01-29T13:59:02Z")
I’ve read enough comics to know that one way to garner interest in a character that people have lost interest in is the kill them off and wait for the “please bring him/her back” letters and fan campaigns. It’s kind of embarrassing if the second part doesn’t happen. ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2020, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-planters-really-getting-rid-of-mr-peanut/847130/8 "2020-01-29T16:15:10Z")
For some reason I find this image very disturbing. [![](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mr._Peanut#/media/File:Mr._Peanut_Goes_to_War.jpg) ](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mr._Peanut#/media/File:Mr._Peanut_Goes_to_War.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Boycott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boycott/32/6741_2.png) [@Boycott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boycott)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2020, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-planters-really-getting-rid-of-mr-peanut/847130/9 "2020-01-29T16:28:39Z")
President Carter sees off another nemesis ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2020, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-planters-really-getting-rid-of-mr-peanut/847130/10 "2020-01-29T16:41:15Z")
I heard he got a reprieve. Apparently. Or maybe not. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2020, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-planters-really-getting-rid-of-mr-peanut/847130/11 "2020-01-29T16:42:54Z")
Maybe Mr. Peanut could take a cue from the Priceline Negotiator and find a new life surfing on a remote island somewhere. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2020, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-planters-really-getting-rid-of-mr-peanut/847130/12 "2020-01-29T16:50:49Z")
> [@markn\_1](#): > > For some reason I find this image very disturbing. > [Mr. Peanut - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mr._Peanut#/media/File:Mr._Peanut_Goes_to_War.jpg) A targeted chemical weapon against Germans with peanut allergies. ---
**Author:** ![Disheavel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@Disheavel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Disheavel)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2020, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-planters-really-getting-rid-of-mr-peanut/847130/13 "2020-01-29T18:01:23Z")
My own personal thought: yes, they were going to do away with him. Nuts and plant based protein has been hugely successful recently. Look no further than the Impossible Burger… and the coolness with which pistachios are packaged and sold. So I think they wanted a younger, hipper mascot to rebrand peanuts in a cool fun way. They know that doing away with an icon would create a bump as well. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2020, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-planters-really-getting-rid-of-mr-peanut/847130/14 "2020-01-30T21:03:33Z")
> [@Disheavel](#): > > My own personal thought: yes, they were going to do away with him. Nuts and plant based protein has been hugely successful recently. Look no further than the Impossible Burger… and the coolness with which pistachios are packaged and sold. > > So I think they wanted a younger, hipper mascot to rebrand peanuts in a cool fun way. They know that doing away with an icon would create a bump as well. The Notorious N.U.T., a rappin’ skateboard-shreddin’ rad dude with a bad attitude. TO THE EXTREME! ---
**Author:** ![Dallas\_Jones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dallas_jones/32/3277_2.png) [@Dallas\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dallas_Jones)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2020, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-planters-really-getting-rid-of-mr-peanut/847130/15 "2020-01-30T21:41:23Z")
I heard that he was smeared out on some sour dough south of San Fran. But I don’t trust his girlfriend, Jelly. ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2020, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-planters-really-getting-rid-of-mr-peanut/847130/16 "2020-01-30T23:41:50Z")
> [@Disheavel](#): > > My own personal thought: yes, they were going to do away with him. Nuts and plant based protein has been hugely successful recently. Look no further than the Impossible Burger… and the coolness with which pistachios are packaged and sold. > > So I think they wanted a younger, hipper mascot to rebrand peanuts in a cool fun way. They know that doing away with an icon would create a bump as well. Then you run the risk of looking mean to a bunch of Mr. Peanut fans who want him brought back. If you think Mr peanut is past his time, you either have him fade away without comment (e.g Ronald McDonald), or else you update the character to make him hipply ironic (i.e. the burger king king). I figure that we will have a year long advertising campaign based around mourning his death, followed by sightings of Mr. Peanut, and conspiracy theories that he’s not really dead, culminating in his final comeback at the 2021 Superbowl. ---
**Author:** ![Peanuthead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peanuthead/32/360_2.png) [@Peanuthead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peanuthead)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2020, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-planters-really-getting-rid-of-mr-peanut/847130/17 "2020-01-31T04:09:07Z")
Nah, Mr. Peanut is not dead. He’s just hiding out here on the SDMB. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![md2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@md2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md2000)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2020, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-planters-really-getting-rid-of-mr-peanut/847130/18 "2020-01-31T04:10:26Z")
I guess they didn’t want to shell out for a PR firm. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2020, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-planters-really-getting-rid-of-mr-peanut/847130/19 "2020-01-31T13:01:22Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > The Notorious N.U.T., a rappin’ skateboard-shreddin’ rad dude with a bad attitude. TO THE EXTREME! That will only work if he’s at least 15% rasta. ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2020, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-planters-really-getting-rid-of-mr-peanut/847130/20 "2020-01-31T13:39:36Z")
Maybe he will move to the Peanut Council, or whatever quasi-government like ad spending agency promotes peanut consumption nationally? When I see Mr. Peanut, I never really think of Planters specifically; maybe he’d have a better home. Edit: Ah, yes the [National Peanut Board](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Peanut_Board), and according to the Wikipedia page, it’s, as I alluded to, funded by a special 1% tax on peanuts. Certainly they can afford Mr. Peanut’s salary and living expenses. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-planters-really-getting-rid-of-mr-peanut/847130.md?page=2)