Pepsi Pulls Kendall Jenner’s New Ad Amid Social Media Backlash

Screengrab of Kendall Jenner's new Pepsi ad.
People are not happy with Kendall Jenner’s new Pepsi ad. (Photo: Pepsi)

Kendall Jenner’s new Pepsi commercial isn’t getting such a bubbly reception.

In the ad, titled “Live for Now Moments” and set to Skip Marley’s “Lions,” the 21-year-old sports platinum blond hair and is in the middle of posing for a photo shoot amid a vague protest. She then rips off her wig, wipes off her makeup, and changes from a metallic dress into a denim jacket to join the crowd.

Next, she offers a can of Pepsi MAX to a police officer, who takes a sip and cracks a smile, which seems to solve everything.

Pepsi pulled the ad on Wednesday and removed it from its official YouTube page following a backlash. The brand released a follow-up statement to a previous statement that defended the commercial. (Pepsi originally said the video “reflects people from different walks of life coming together in a spirit of harmony, and we think that’s an important message to convey.”)

“Pepsi was trying to project a global message of unity, peace and understanding. Clearly we missed the mark, and we apologize,” the updated version on Pepsico.com reads. “We did not intend to make light of any serious issue. We are removing the content and halting any further rollout. We also apologize for putting Kendall Jenner in this position.”

Criticisms of the spot on social media have included some calling it “disgusting,” “distasteful,” “tone deaf,” and more.

The peace-offering-with-a-Pepsi scene drew comparisons to Ieshia Evans, who was pictured wearing a dress and standing up to law enforcement during a Baton Rouge riot following Alton Sterling’s shooting death by the police.

Still others expressed frustration with the brand seeming to trivialize social issues, such as Black Lives Matter, and using mainly white celebrities in the process.

In response, some have suggested boycotting Pepsi.

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