Scientology Goes After Planters Icon Mr. Peanut For Critiquing Its Super Bowl Ad

[Ubiquitous]

Poor Mr. Peanut.

This year's Super Bowl left something to be desired and the
commercials were no exception. But when the well-known legume
decided to become a Twitter critic of the Church of Scientology's
creepy 30-second spot on Sunday, he found himself in more trouble
than he anticipated.

Planters had its own commercial featuring Alex Rodriguez and Charlie
Sheen, but the company's spokes-peanut also appeared on Twitter, and
when Scientology aired its ad, Mr. Peanut responded directly.

Watching the @Scientology ad like...
pic.twitter.com/iCnkfmTS8l

— Mr. Peanut (@MrPeanut) February 4, 2019

Scientology doesn't take kindly to critics, and social media users
were quick to point out in their responses to the tweet that Mr.
Peanut better watch his back — and probably his front lawn, as
Scientology is known to dispatch private investigators to hunt down
dirt on detractors, whom they label as SPs or "suppressive persons"
(or, in this case, "suppressive peanut"), in a process known to
Scientologists as "Fair Game."

@LeahRemini Can they fair game a peanut?

— tmazgal (@tmazgal) February 4, 2019

A number of users tagged Leah Remini, who hosts the hit A&E docu-
series, Scientology: The Aftermath, which documents the Church of
Scientology's many physical, emotional, and financial abuses. Remini
responded by assuring commenters that, indeed, Scientology works to
intimidate all its critics, and that probably includes Mr. Peanut.

Often, Scientology's critics, like Remini, become subject to a
widespread campaign of disinformation. Scientology has been known to
dispatch investigators, harass friends and family of those they
label as SPs, and publish bizarre 'hate websites" that claim to
reveal the "truth" about those who've publicly split with the
Church.

They will Fair Game anyone. Which is why anyone speaking
out against this dangerous and spiteful cult of Scientology
is commendable and honorable.

— Leah Remini (@LeahRemini) February 4, 2019

Honestly, the idea of "Fair Game-ing" a cartoon peanut sounds
farfetched, right?

It turns out, it wasn't far off the mark. Within minutes of
Planters' tweet, prominent Scientologists, including some heavily
involved in the Church's "Stand League," which operates as something
of a "digital rapid response" operation, were tweeting that Planters
was exhibiting "anti-religious bigotry."

I think that this tweet is inappropriate. It comes across
as anti-religious bigotry.

— Edward Parkin (@EPStandLeague) February 4, 2019

Fortunately for Mr. Peanut, Scientology has yet to purchase
"WhoIsMrPeanut.com," so the operation to expose the cartoon peanut
has not reached its full potential.

Ultimately, too, Mr. Peanut came out on top. The Planters brand took
home the coveted Ad Week "Brand Bowl" MVP award for the brand most
retweeted during Sunday's big game. Their peanut based giveaway no
doubt helped them achieve social media stardom, but the Scientology
criticism definitely didn't hurt.

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