No brand ends the life of a mascot after more than 100 years lightly. But will this “funeral” give people a new perspective on Planters? Mr. Peanut is dead. Planters killed off the mascot in a playful pre-Super Bowl ad that portrays him as a life-saving hero. The company “leaked” the ad early, generating a ton of buzz in the media, particularly on Twitter, well in advance of the game. Read what Leslie has to say about it.