You’ve probably heard about the Pepsi commercial that showed Kendall Jenner ditching a modeling shoot to join the streets for a protest and offer a cop a Pepsi. Ugh. We could see Pepsi wanted to be that hip company that’s down with human rights, but they just really missed the mark. This ostensive ‘liberal’ ad is actually no-good.
First up, it co-opts images from real grassroots protesters, replacing them with millionaire superstars. For instance, the shot of Jenner handing a Pepsi to the policeman is hauntingly similar to that of Iesha Evans, standing stoic and brave as she was arrested last year in Baton Rouge.
Second, the idea that a can of Pepsi could end police brutality totally trivializes the life-threatening work that real Black Lives Matter activists risk.
This is what social media is good for – so let’s use it that way! Thanks, y’all for keeping us on the tracks and for making sure we honor the right peeps.
