Pepsi is getting a taste of what it’s like to be in the middle of cultural drama after a mixed reception to their newest ad campaign. The Black Lives Matter movement says that it makes light of their struggle and what they’re trying to accomplish.
There are also some conservatives that don’t like it because someone quit their job to go protest, like it’s the cool new thing to do. Personally, I think the message they’re trying to convey is that if you’re beautiful like Kendall all the worlds problems will be solved if you just give a soda to a Ken doll.
Watch the video, and decide for yourself.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dA5Yq1DLSmQ
Originally, the soda giant defended its ad, saying it was a necessary message, even if it was uncomfortable for some.
“This is a global ad that 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 said.
They later retracted that statement and pulled the ad saying:
“Pepsi was trying to project a global message of unity, peace and understanding,” the company said in a statement released on its website. “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.”
I’m not sure if you’ve heard it, but Aesop wrote a fable about a man, his son and a donkey traveling to market and all the people they met. These people had all sorts of advice about how they should live their lives and treat the donkey. I don’t want to spoil the end for you if you haven’t read it yet, but in the story, they listened everyone else instead of using their own good judgment and ended up a foot, left with only a life lesson and a dead donkey.
Pepsi should probably take some advice from the fable and realize that no matter what kind of ad they put out, someone will find fault with it. And hey, we’re all talking about it, we’re all watching it and chances are it’s making some people crave Pepsi. And isn’t that what marketing is all about anyway?
As Aesop said in his fable:
“That will teach you, . . .PLEASE ALL, AND YOU WILL PLEASE NONE.”
(H/T: The Blaze)