It’s been 46 years since Coca-Cola tried to unite humanity with their “I’d Like to Buy the World a Coke” campaign, and in all that time, they could never do what Pepsi has now accomplished with their latest ad. I don’t think I’ve ever seen people of all walks agree so strongly, but here we are, united as humans in our strong certainty that this is most definitely the worst ad ever created.
Behold:
So proud of you @kendalljenner! Thank you @pepsi for choosing Kendall to be the face of your new campaign! #Pepsi #PepsiMoment #LiveforNow pic.twitter.com/YsAa9cBG2O
— Kris Jenner (@KrisJenner) April 4, 2017
Oh my gosh, this commercial has everything. EVERYTHING.
It has general “protest” as a super fun, sellable, street fair/block party-style commodity. SO HIP AND CASUAL AND WOKE! WE KNOW WHAT THE YOUTHS WANT!
The inoffensive generic protest signs in Pepsi’s woke Kendall Jenner ad are hilarious. pic.twitter.com/9t2h6YxCZL
— Ronan Farrow (@RonanFarrow) April 4, 2017
i am shocked because i expected a collaborative effort between kendall jenner and the pepsi corporation to be very good
— 😒 alex (@soalexgoes) April 4, 2017
It clearly means to invoke images of actual protest, but mass-manufactured and siphoned into its least challenging possible form. (i.e. The Kendall Jenner Form.)
Imagine putting your life on the line like this to fight for justice only to have it parodied by a soda company and a Kardashian pic.twitter.com/g55s09owVf
— jamilah (@JamilahLemieux) April 4, 2017
Because REVOLUTION! PEPSI! CHANGE!
J. Edgar Hoover takes aim from the grassy knoll. The motorcade approaches. He fires. JFK raises a #Pepsi to his lips, blocks the bullet.
— Patton Oswalt (@pattonoswalt) April 5, 2017
Hell yeah I hope the militarized police force beats the shit out of me while enjoying a cool, refreshing Pepsi™ https://t.co/E7NgU9uTwS
— Dan Ozzi (@danozzi) April 4, 2017
@KrisJenner @KendallJenner @pepsi that’s it, kendall just fixed all social injustices. bless.
— Missing Link (@MissngLnk) April 4, 2017
Nevertheless, she Pepsisted. pic.twitter.com/53e6rxLS50
— Mдтт Иegяiи (@MattNegrin) April 4, 2017
Thanks, Pepsi, for finally teaching us how revolution works.
“Now just wait one second officers.
I have a Pepsi.” pic.twitter.com/NW0sddKOOI
— Philip Lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) April 5, 2017
“I’M TELLIN’ YOU I GAVE THE OFFICER A PEPSI AND HE TOOK HIS HAND OFF HIS NIGHT STICK!”
“Whoa slow down lemme get this straight…” pic.twitter.com/pM1uy66vft
— Eric Haywood (@EricHaywood) April 5, 2017
It manages to sell protest as a fun cool product, but also be centered around a message, it seems, of Blue Lives Matter?
When she thinks the can of Pepsi is going to stop you from pepper spraying the nearest person of color pic.twitter.com/XMDfg8s02G
— Zito (@_Zeets) April 4, 2017
i get it now. if black lives matter protesters would’ve handed a pepsi to the cops they wouldnt of gotten tear gassed. it’s so clear now.
— quinta b. (@quintabrunson) April 4, 2017
Overall, appropriating protest for corporate sales isn’t going to go over well. I think a lot of us could have told Pepsi that, but alas, no one ever asked.
The Kendall Jenner Pepsi fiasco is a perfect example of what happens when there’s no black people in the room when decisions are being made.
— Travon Free (@Travon) April 4, 2017
I’m sure they have our best interests at heart, though, right? Given all that wokeness?
.@pepsi, I’m assuming you’ll be using the money you make to support @ACLU, @PPact, #CampaignZero + other social change.
That’s all I got.
— Brittany Packnett (@MsPackyetti) April 4, 2017
Here’s a statement I just got from Pepsi about their Kendall Jenner joins the resistance ad (story coming shortly on @Adweek dot com): pic.twitter.com/XIKDypVpvb
— kristina monllos (@kristinamonllos) April 5, 2017
But, again, at the very least, it did bring a lot of us together. You know, in our hatred of it.
theory: that Kendall Jenner Pepsi ad is actually a Coke ad
— Chris Gayomali (@chrisgayomali) April 4, 2017
Hot take: the Pepsi ad is a unifying force.
Conservatives hate it for invoking BLM imagery. Liberals hate it for invoking BLM imagery.
— Parker Molloy (@ParkerMolloy) April 4, 2017
In fairness to Pepsi, their ad did bring people together.
— Josh Barro (@jbarro) April 4, 2017
And then, one of the very worst parts in a long parade of worst parts:
Lots of issues with the Pepsi ad but the glaring absence & erasure of black women is a huge one. Black women carry movements on their backs.
— Christiana A Mbakwe (@Christiana1987) April 4, 2017
I’ve watched this @Pepsi commercial several times, and the ONLY Black woman in the commercial is catching Kendall Jenner’s blonde wig. pic.twitter.com/HJods3LdbL
— LEFT✍🏾 (@LeftSentThis) April 5, 2017
@yusufyuie Peep the black woman’s face as she gets Kendall’s blonde wig tossed in her face 😭 pic.twitter.com/UHhfHhMCtM
— Frank (@FictionFrank) April 5, 2017
Kendall Jenner tosses her wig to a black woman, doesn't even look at her, and goes to join a "protest"?
Wtf @pepsi ? pic.twitter.com/IrLU1rGhKj
— Krys L (@unclekrys) April 5, 2017
“Here, black woman that’s been fighting for equality. Hold my wig!” pic.twitter.com/4Dln8k0gb0
— Priestess Bad Bitch (@TheHelenOfTrill) April 5, 2017
Oh, hey, bonus gift! Did you think this couldn’t be any worse? Well, surprise! Here’s the full-length version.
I’m sorry and you’re welcome.
(image: screengrab)
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