Pepsi has announced they are pulling the controversial ad showing model, Kendall Jenner resolving a racially motivated protest by handing a police officer a can of Pepsi.
“Pepsi was trying to project a global message of unity, peace and understanding,” the company said in a statement.
“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 rollout. We also apologize for putting Kendall Jenner in this position.”
The spot, which received millions of YouTube views since Tuesday, showed Jenner finishing a photoshoot before joining a protest of racially diverse young people facing off with police. Jenner offers an officer a cold Pepsi, and the crowd erupts into cheers after the cop drinks it and smiles — seemingly solving social problems with a few sips.
Social media users mocked just about every moment of the ad, right down to the protest signs that were apparently supposed to signify Arabic.
The spot made no specific reference to any of the numerous reasons protesters have been taking to the streets across America in the past few years.