Pepsi Pulls Controversial Ad

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If the Black Lives Matter movement were led by a 21-year-old white supermodel armed with a can of fizzy soda, then maybe everyone would just get along. That’s the vision presented in Pepsi’s new ad featuring reality TV star Kendall Jenner.

The ad was pulled on Wednesday after being met with widespread condemnation, with critics accusing the drinks giant of appropriating a nationwide protest movement following police shootings of African Americans.

“Pepsi was trying to project a global message of unity, peace and understanding. Clearly we missed the mark, and we apologize,” Pepsi wrote in a statement on Wednesday. “We did not intend to make light of any serious issue.”

Jenner is in the middle of a photo shoot when she happens to notice a protest march making its way down the street. The ad has sparked accusations that Pepsi has appropriated a racial protest movement to sell a global fizzy drinks brand.

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