Pepsi has pulled an ad featuring Kendall Jenner due to widespread controversy in reference to degrading the protests of minority groups.
The ad displays a major street protest, specifically displaying specific minority groups. Jenner is shown posing for a modeling shoot, and when she sees the protests, she joins, grabs a can of Pepsi, and walks over to hand one to a police officer. When the officer drinks the Pepsi, the mass of protesters starts cheering and the protest ends.
The controversy started immediately with many claiming that the ad is demeaning to the Black Lives Matter movement, and offensive to those who have continually protested against police violence and demanded justice.
The daughter of Martin Luther King Jr., Bernice King tweeted a picture of her father to mock the commercial.
If only Daddy would have known about the power of #Pepsi. pic.twitter.com/FA6JPrY72V
— Be A King (@BerniceKing) April 5, 2017
Pepsi said in a statement that it was trying to promote unity, peace, and understanding.
"Clearly, we missed the mark, and we apologize. We did not intend to make light of any serious issue," Pepsi said in the statement. "We are pulling the content and halting any further rollout. We also apologize for putting Kendall Jenner in this position."
Meanwhile, others are tweeting different points of view, in light of the recent, tragic attacks in Syria.
With children being gassed in Syria, I'm glad twitter is channelling its righteous rage towards a Pepsi ad where Jenner gives a cop a drink.
— Lucas Lynch (@lucasjlynch) April 5, 2017