After setting Twitter ablaze and upsetting viewers, Pepsi has removed its new Kendall Jenner commercial from YouTube. The beverage brand issued an apology to viewers, explaining that the new commercial “missed the mark.” It also announced that “any further roll-out” of the campaign would be stopped.
Pepsi released a statement on its website:
“Pepsi was trying to project a global message of unity, peace and understanding. Clearly we missed the mark and we apologize. We did not intend to make light of any serious issue. We are pulling the content and halting any further roll-out. We also apologize for putting Kendall Jenner in this position.”
This isn’t the brand’s first time commenting on the video. The brand initially defended the commercial with an earlier statement released last night. “This is a global ad that reflects people from different walks of life coming together in a spirit of harmony, and we think that’s an important message to convey,” it read.
Pepsi decided to pull the commercial after it came under fire shortly after the ad was released yesterday morning. Critics on social media bashed the video spot for being tone-deaf, insensitive and disrespectful to real-life protests and social movements. Jenner, on the other hand, has not yet publicly responded to the campaign backlash.
