Recently, a new video ad released by the Pepsi was going viral on social media, which triggered great outrage among the public. Many people on Twitter perceived this ad as a performance of white supremacy and racism. Because in the video, the minor groups of people like Asian, Muslim were all stereotyped, and the leader of the demonstration was a white woman.
Waiter: "Is #Pepsi okay?"
Me: "Is white supremacy okay? Is racism okay? Is degrading okay?" *Promptly flips table over*— Michelle•12 (@Michelle_Miao12) April 5, 2017
If you want to capitalize on messages of unity, peace and understanding, firstly prove that you care. #Pepsi #PepsiMoment
— Jeetendr Sehdev (@JeetendrSehdev) April 5, 2017
Besides, the demonstration portrayed in the ad was far beyond the reality. It hided the brutality and tension appearing in real demonstrations, beautifying the complicated situation. Personally, a company should be very cautious when it combines the public interest with its commercial purpose.
Our fight for liberation is not for sale. No thanks #Pepsi pic.twitter.com/P6j2VxRVdc
— morgan (@Yeahmorgs) April 5, 2017
If you like this #Pepsi trash ad or see nothing wrong with it, we are not friends anymore or stop following me plz.
— Lindie Vries (@Luluruud) April 5, 2017
Compared with the negative sentiment, I’m more interested in those who held different opinions and attitude. First, everyone has the right to express publicly. And especially for those sensitive issues, they could be ignored if no enough attentions were paid. So it’s very necessary to speak up. But, when criticism turns into outrage, it could be dangerous since people are likely to rely too much on their bias and trap themselves in a one-sided perspective.
whoa, i thought the #kendalljenner #pepsi ad was bad, but this is too far pic.twitter.com/gTklSPbFup
— Dolphin Pilot (@TheAmitie) April 4, 2017
In addition, the underlying meaning of this ad is larger than itself, so we can’t take for granted that it’s meaningless to discuss it. Only if when a society has developed into a high level of civilization, people come to focus on trivial things in their life, just as the commercial racism here. We discuss on it, fight for it, then justice and fairness could gradually be accomplished.
You know humanity is in a terrible state when a #pepsi advertisement gets more attention than a gas attack in #syria.
— Monica Abdelsayed (@abdelsayed_m) April 5, 2017