Shortly after it aired, Pepsi pulled a controversial advertisement which featured model Kendall Jenner giving a can of soda to a police officer at a protest. The ad immediately drew criticism online from individuals who said it trivialized and exploited protest movements and police brutality against black Americans.
“Pepsi was trying to project a global message of unity, peace and understanding. Clearly, we missed the mark and apologize,” the company said in a statement. “We did not intend to make light of any serious issue. We are pulling the content and halting any further rollout.”
Critics on Twitter said the advertisement appropriated imagery associated with serious protests and minimized the real danger black Americans face when confronted by police.
Source: nytimes.com
