The dramatic fallout between Peanut, the creator of the viral squirrel meme, and the community behind the $PNUT token has become contentious.
Mark Longo, known as @Squirrel_Dad12 on X, has accused the $PNUT community of exploiting his personal tragedy for profit.
In response, Longo launched his own meme coin, $JUSTICE, positioning it as a tribute to his deceased pets, Peanut the squirrel and Fred the raccoon.
This conflict comes after Longo’s pets were euthanized by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), sparking widespread outrage and elevating Peanut to a symbol of freedom against government overreach.
However, Longo’s new token and his threats of legal action against $PNUT have only deepened the divide, with $JUSTICE reaching a $130M million market cap as $PNUT continues to decline.
Squirrel Owner New Meme Coin: $JUSTICE vs. $PNUT
Longo’s criticism of the $PNUT token centers on his claim that the community used Peanut’s story to enrich themselves while ignoring his plight.
In a now-deleted X post, Longo declared:
“The $PNUT community USED MY STORY, MY SQUIRREL, AND MY LIKENESS TO MAKE MILLIONS.”
The $PNUT token initially gained traction following its listing on Binance, peaking before gradually losing momentum.
Longo alleged that despite the token’s success, he received no meaningful support from the community, even accusing them of misusing $50,000 in donations raised on his behalf.
In response, Longo launched $JUSTICE on the Solana blockchain, branding it as the only official tribute to Peanut and Fred.
The coin quickly soared in popularity, reaching a $13 million market cap and gaining 50,000% in value within minutes of launch.
According to the data from DexScreener, at the time of writing, $JUSTICE is trading at $0.1348, having gained 134k% with a $130M market cap in the last 12 hours.
Source: DexScreener
Its appeal lies in its unique position as a protest against the exploitation of Peanut’s legacy and its promise of transparency.
It has been sold as a renounced ownership, and the $JUSTICE’s contract ownership has been relinquished to prevent rug pulls.
Additionally, Longo went further to burn all liquidity pool tokens to ensure fairness.
The website also stated that the token features a tax-free model for buying and selling.
According to Longo’s promotional material, $JUSTICE aims to create a community-driven platform to champion causes for animals and people whose stories have gone unheard.
However, critics argue that the launch of $JUSTICE is less about activism and more about cashing in on the meme coin frenzy surrounding Peanut’s legacy.
Legal and Community Fallout
The rivalry between $PNUT and $JUSTICE escalated further, with Longo announcing potential legal action against $PNUT holders.
In another deleted post, Longo threatened to sue the token community for copyright infringement, vowing to “shut it down” as early as tomorrow.
This controversy stems from Peanut and Fred’s tragic backstory. In October, DEC officials seized both animals from Longo’s home due to violations of state laws on keeping wild animals.
Peanut had gained widespread online fame before being euthanized after biting an officer, despite later testing negative for rabies.
The public backlash to the euthanasia, amplified by Elon Musk’s comments on X, propelled Peanut into the spotlight as a symbol of government overreach.
The $PNUT token emerged shortly after leveraging the squirrel’s newfound status.
While $PNUT initially thrived, the current infighting risks further damaging its reputation.
Longo’s claims of exploitation and his plans for legal action have sparked heated debates among community members.
Some defend Longo’s actions as justified, while others accuse him of hypocrisy, citing allegations that he sold donations meant to support his cause.
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