Kendall Jenner is the first model to have her own global Pepsi campaign since the iconic adverts with Cindy Crawford in 1992. However, Jenner's video campaign for the beverage came out today, and the social media backlash has been swift, and unmerciful.
In the advert, you see Jenner modelling in a photoshoot, wearing a blonde wig. A protest march is streaming past her, and she makes eye contact with a protestor who nods, encouraging her to join in. She grabs a can of Pepsi, and makes her way through the crowd of happy protestors to hand the can to a policeman. He smiles and turns to another policeman, making an expression that seems to imply, "maybe we should join in".
The reaction to the video has been overwhelmingly negative on social media. The video has widely been called 'tone-deaf', and many have accused Pepsi and Jenner of appropriating important protest movements in order to sell cola.
Many have noted that the faux-protest also appears to co-opt the Black Lives Matter movement and the major issue of police brutality towards black people in the United States.
Some have also mentioned that the ad seems to copy of Black Lives Matter protester Ieshia Evans being arrested by police, during a Black Lives Matter protest in Baton Rouge, after .
Many commentators have spoken online about the tone-deaf idea that a peaceful resolution to all kinds of harmful bigotry and violence can come by handing a police officer a can of Pepsi.
Pepsi and Kendall Jenner are yet to make a statement in response to the large amount of criticism to the advertisement.
