Pepsi is pulling its Kendall Jenner ad after backlash
PepsiCo
The beverage giant said it was removing the advertisement, which featured the model Kendall Jenner attending a protest, and halting further rollout of the campaign.
"Pepsi was trying to project a global message of unity, peace and understanding," the company said in a statement, reported by the Wall Street Journal. "Clearly we missed the mark and we apologize. We did not intend to make light of any serious issue."
"We also apologize for putting Kendall Jenner in this position," the statement continued.
The commercial immediately sparked controversy when it was released Tuesday, with critics saying the ad was tone deaf and co-opted imagery from a Black Lives Matter protest.
Critics included Bernice King, Martin Luther King Jr.'s daughter.
- I spent 2 weeks in India. A highlight was visiting a small mountain town so beautiful it didn't seem real.
- I quit McKinsey after 1.5 years. I was making over $200k but my mental health was shattered.
- Some Tesla factory workers realized they were laid off when security scanned their badges and sent them back on shuttles, sources say
- 8 Lesser-known places to visit near Nainital
- World Liver Day 2024: 10 Foods that are necessary for a healthy liver
- Essential tips for effortlessly renewing your bike insurance policy in 2024
- Indian Railways to break record with 9,111 trips to meet travel demand this summer, nearly 3,000 more than in 2023
- India's exports to China, UAE, Russia, Singapore rose in 2023-24