From the minute soda company Pepsi posted their much-hyped new advert, featuring reality star Kendall Jenner, it was clear something was wrong. The ad showed supermodel Jenner valiantly leaving a photoshoot to courageously join a generic protest march full of attractive people and bravely hand a policeman a can of cold Pepsi (and supposedly thereafter create an environment of peace and harmony between all). It drew criticism from hordes of people who thought it trivialised the recent street protests that have taken place across the US.
Less than 24 hours later, and Pepsi have pulled the advert after facing a backlash from all quarters, including a mocking rebuke from Bernice King, daughter of legendary civil rights activist Martin Luther King Jr.
The fizzy drinks maker said it was "trying to project a global message of unity, peace and understanding".
"Clearly we missed the mark, and we apologise,” they continued. “We did not intend to make light of any serious issue. We are removing the content and halting any further rollout."
Many drew comparisons of the final lingering image of Jenner and the stark photo of Black Lives Matter activist Ieshia Evans, who faced heavily armoured police alone at a protest in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and became a defining image of the protest movement across America.
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