Pepsi has come in for major criticism after debuting an advert featuring Kendall Jenner offering a soda can to a riot police officer.
The 'Live For Now Moments Anthem' commercial sees the Keeping Up with the Kardashians reality TV star ditching a photo shoot (and a blonde wig) to join a street protest, set to a track by Bob Marley's grandson Skip.
An eclectic group of good-looking, millennial protesters carry signs that read "love" and "join the conversation" with the ad culminating in Jenner's peace offering, which results in the officer breaking into a smile and the crowd cheering.
The ad has been slated as a tone-deaf co-opting of the US resistance movement. The image of Jenner with the police has also drawn 'in poor taste' comparisons with the now famous Jonathan Bachman photo of protester Ieshia Evans standing up to police in Baton Rouge last year.
Social media was, as ever, quick to react...
The world could have been such a better place if we knew about the mystical power of #Pepsi. #WhatCouldHaveBeen #CocaColaSecretCampaign pic.twitter.com/Q5IzucajS0
— Niall Cole (@cole_niall) April 5, 2017
"STOP GUYS! I have a Pepsi multi pack in my car!!" pic.twitter.com/0BamCseHUo
— Ojuelepogba (@Chenyboi) April 5, 2017
"Hold on hold on, she's coming over with the Pepsi and you'll see that this is just one big misunderstanding" pic.twitter.com/NHe29hyrWw
— Agony Wofa (@ProfessorKumi) April 5, 2017
Pepsi has defended the ad, releasing a statement:
"This is a global ad that reflects people from different walks of life coming together in a spirit of harmony.
"We think that's an important message to convey."
