The much hyped ‘funeral’ for Mr. Peanut, the iconic Planter’s Peanuts mascot, will not take place as planned during the third period of the Super Bowl Game this weekend…
Kobe Bryant and two of his daughters: Gianna on Left
Planters executives and media managers have decided to postpone the funeral of Mr. Peanut until ‘sometime later’, in response to a social media uproar that running the Super Bowl ad would disrespect Kobe Bryant the his daughter, and the other seven people who died in the crash of a helicopter in dense fog last weekend along the California Coast. Bryant was flying in his personal chopper to a basketball game in Thousand Oaks, CA, in which his 13-year-old daughter Gianna was to play. Bryant was slated to be floorside as a coach.
FAA officials and others now say the helicopter probably dropped lower and lower as it flew through the dense fog, trying to get under it, and rammed into a mountainside.
Planters takes the high road
Planters announced yesterday that it would not run the ‘Funeral’ spot during the super Bowl, but did not say what it would run instead, or if it would run any spot at all.
“We are saddened by this weekend’s news and Planters has paused all campaign activities, including paid media, and will evaluate next steps through a lens of sensitivity to those impacted by this tragedy,” Planters said, in a statement.
One wonders whether Pro Football Inc. gives refunds in such circumstances…
Nevertheless…
You should still have lots of great Super Bowl commercials to enjoy. Look for the usual players, including Pepsi, Frito-Lays and a car company or two…
~ Maggie J.