A comedian unsuccessfully reenacted a controversial Pepsi ad featuring model Kendall Jenner.
As George Floyd protests carried into Tuesday in Los Angeles, California, comedian Everett Byram attempted to bring a can of Pepsi to a police officer holding a line, parodying a widely mocked 2017 ad from the soda company featuring Jenner.
“Hey, you guys, like a Kardashian over here, hey, look, it’s a Pepsi, want Pepsi? Have it! Have a Pepsi, dude!” Byram said while walking toward the officers.
Officers said they appreciated the offer but informed Byram he needed to back away. “Uh! But it helped in the commercial,” Byram said in response.
“I don’t drink soda,” the officer responded.
Pepsi’s ad, which aired during the 2017 Super Bowl, was pulled after facing criticism from activists who accused the ad of downplaying the experience of black people protesting police violence.
“Pepsi was trying to project a global message of unity, peace and understanding. Clearly, we missed the mark and apologize,” the company said in a statement issued at the time. “We did not intend to make light of any serious issue. We are pulling the content and halting any further rollout.”
Jenner, who frequently appears on the E! reality show Keeping Up with the Kardashians, later said she would “never purposefully hurt someone ever” after the ad was aired, adding that was not the intent of the ad.
“I genuinely feel like shit,” Jenner said on an episode of the reality TV show.
