In a two-and-a-half-minute ad, Hollywood It Girl Kendall Jenner rips off her blond wig and glitzy clothes, gets into full denim gear and joins a street protest.
Her expression says: Jenner is here to save the day.
In the final coup de grace scene, Jenner hands a can of Pepsi to a policeman and strides back to the cheering crowd. We can all “Join the Conversation” and “Live Bolder”, with the help of some peace and love signs like the ones the Coachella-like crowd held in the ad – all is well now.
Except it is not, not for Jenner and Pepsi, at least.
It’s been called the “worst ad of all time” for its “tone-deaf” act of “exploiting Black Lives Matter movement“.
Within just 24 hours, Pepsi released the ad, riled people up and when all was lost, pulled the plug on it.
“Clearly, we missed the mark and apologise,” the company said in a statement on Wednesday.
But what are students saying about this controversial stint?
1. They wish they could hand a Pepsi to their student loan officer and all will be fine. (it’s not)
I'll Forgive @pepsi If They Pay Off ALL My Student Loans 🤷🏽♀️
— ZZ 🇭🇳 (@Zinzabell) April 6, 2017
https://twitter.com/peachessN_cream/status/849755998558593024
Pay my student loans and car debt and all is forgiven @pepsi
— John Doe (@SMR_J_Star) April 5, 2017
2. Some showed Pepsi they were one-up on their pop culture
https://twitter.com/Emer_OToole/status/849756553133666305
3. Others said Pepsi should have learnt their lesson by now.
tone deaf soda ads also happened in india; made a mockery of student protests. it was just as irritating, same brand https://t.co/bmmFlTYkQD
— And the Geet Goes On (@ElSangito) April 5, 2017
https://twitter.com/omfgthelife/status/849644529930076160
4. Many are now trying to solve other pressing real-life problems using Kendall Jenner’s lead.
[me in history class tomorrow]
Teacher: Who can tell me what events led to the end of slavery?
Me: Abraham Lincoln gave The South a Pepsi.
— Seth Goodtime (@SethGoodtime) April 5, 2017
https://twitter.com/AshxDanielle_/status/849721169318207488
https://twitter.com/MrJoeWalz/status/849804853488619523
6. Confidence is soaring. Many students say they could do a better job (we believe them).
pepsi ?? who came up with your big idea ??? i'd make a better ad and i'm just an advertising student and a shitty one at that
— roo (@filmlys) April 5, 2017
https://twitter.com/ZachMorrison2Go/status/849778739722551296
Oh @pepsi. If any execs. want a mini version of my @Harvard Vision & Justice class, I will come to you. Seriously.
— Sarah Elizabeth Lewis (@sarahelizalewis) April 5, 2017
What did you think about the #PepsiAd? Let us know in the comments below!
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