PepsiCo has come under fire for creating “arguably the most racist commercial in history” as part of its latest Mountain Dew advertising campaign.
The video depicts a white lady who has been assaulted, accompanied by a white police officer, as she attends a lineup to identify her attacker, in which every man is black.
The men are joined by a goat who threatens to further attack the woman if she identifies her assailant, prompting the woman to run out.
Meanwhile, the white police officer sips Mountain Dew, adding: “She’s just gotta do it” – “Dew it” being the brand’s slogan.
Members of the public were in uproar at the video, prompting black news commentator Dr Boyce Watkins to accuse PepsiCo on his blog of “corporate racism” and label the advert “arguably the most racist commercial in history”.
PepsiCo has since removed the ad, apologised, and accepted “full responsibility” for the video.
The ad was designed by Tyler, the Creator – a popular black hip-hop artist.
