Pepsi thinks that its ad featuring Kendall Jenner offering a cop a Pepsi during a protest is doing good in the world. After the commercial was roundly criticized for co-opting protest symbolism — including the image of Black Lives Matter protester Ieshia Evans standing in front of police — to sell sugar water, the company has responded to defend itself. “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,†the company said in a statement. The spot is part of a Pepsi campaign called “Live for Now,†which is apparently about celebrating life’s “‘Live for Now’ moments,†such as when you, a white model, realize all social issues can be cured by handing your wig to a black woman and giving the cops a can of Pepsi.
Update: Pepsi has pulled the ad and apologized to Kendall Jenner.