Pepsi released an all new ad featuring Keeping Up With the Kardashians star Kendall Jenner, and the beverage company has been getting absolutely blasted for the commercial that has been labeled as “tone-deaf.”
The almost 3-minute video shows 21-year-old supermodel Kendall Jenner abandoning her photoshoot to join a march in the city streets. The Victoria’s Secret angel approaches one of the police officers and hands him a can of soda, and the surrounding crowd bursts out in cheers as the cop takes a drink.
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After the commercial was released, Pepsi was mercilessly blasted on social media for appropriating the imagery of many of the current movements in the U.S. including Black Lives Matter and anti-Donald Trump resistance.
In response to the massive backlash, Pepsi has released a statement.
“This is a global ad that reflects people from different walks of life coming together in a spirit of harmony, and we think that’s an important message to convey,” the company said in the statement.
Pepsi also gave a statement to Teen Vogue about the Kendall Jenner ad.
“The creative showcases a moment of unity, and a point where multiple storylines converge in the final advert. It depicts various groups of people embracing a spontaneous moment, and showcasing Pepsi’s brand rallying cry to ‘Live For Now,’ in an exploration of what that truly means to live life unbounded, unfiltered and uninhibited.”
After the ad was released on the Internet, Twitter absolutely erupted with scathing responses. Check out some of the most heated reactions here.
Michael Jackson almost burned alive on the set of a Pepsi commercial and today that became the second worst moment in Pepsi history
— Russell (@RussellFalcon) April 5, 2017
Click “Start Slideshow” to see more of the best Twitter reactions.
Do you think this Kendall Jenner–Pepsi ad was inappropriate?
[H/T People, Teen Vogue]
Kudos to Pepsi for uniting Americans across the political spectrum in derisive brand-destroying laughter
— David Burge (@iowahawkblog) April 5, 2017
Shame on you @pepsi for such a tasteless ad. #Jointheconversation #livebolder #livefornow
— Erin Schlissel (@ESchliss) April 4, 2017
the worst thing about that Pepsi ad, beyond the blatant disrespect and disregard, is the amount of people who greenlit that advertisement.
— nasri (@nasrissist) April 4, 2017
J. Edgar Hoover takes aim from the grassy knoll. The motorcade approaches. He fires. JFK raises a #Pepsi to his lips, blocks the bullet.
— Patton Oswalt (@pattonoswalt) April 5, 2017
Why have a dream when you can have a Pepsi? https://t.co/6JBDCIcTE1
— vegan bitch (@retronicals) April 4, 2017
how nice of Kendall Jenner to stop in the middle of her photo shoot to end social injustices by giving that cop a Pepsi ? MLK who? Rosa who?
— reggie (@1942bs) April 4, 2017
who else is reminded of Dr Martin Luther King’s famously resonant “I have a Pepsi” speech pic.twitter.com/xX5h3it3d1
— Scott Ludlam (@SenatorLudlam) April 4, 2017
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A life-size bronze statue of the late comedian, writer and actor, Victoria Wood is unveiled in Bury town centre. (Photo by Danny Lawson/PA Images via Getty Images)
