Pepsi-Branded Ad That Promotes COVID-19 Testing Site Leaves Bad Taste In Mouths
Image via monticello / Shutterstock.com
A Pepsi-sponsored poster that was reportedly hung outside Walmart drew ire of local shoppers in Orlando, Florida.
The poster was meant to promote a COVID-19 testing site at the supermarket, but Pepsi’s motto—“That’s what I like”—was also displayed on the ad, and it clearly left a bad taste.
Pepsi’s corporate branding wasn’t appreciated by fans at all, despite it informing people where they could get tested.
“What absolute dystopian hell world are we living in,” one Twitter user wrote. “COVID-19, brought to you by Pepsi,” another said. Others tried to be cheeky, writing, “This public health billboard brought to you by 55g of sugar per 16oz. While you’re at Walmart, buy some in mass quantities.”
A spokesperson for Pepsi told HuffPost that the poster “was an unfortunate mistake” and has been taken down. One of its sales associates wanted the testing message to be put up quickly, but it didn’t follow protocol, the representative added.
“There was nothing negative intended by the banner. The local teams were trying to raise awareness about the testing site in order to help more people in the community. As soon as we learned about them, it was taken down,” she explained.
What absolute dystopian hell world are we living in. pic.twitter.com/Srnot6ZUji
— Firr (@Firr) May 20, 2020
Covid-19, brought to you by Pepsi cola.
— Dragoneer (@Dragoneer) May 20, 2020
Everything about this is just so bad. The implied Pepsi sponsorship, the suggestion we're supposed to memorize Walmart store codes...
— Simon Fox (@fawksnews) May 20, 2020
This public health billboard brought to you by 55g of sugar per 16 oz. While you’re at Walmart, buy some in mass quantities!
— Area Man, Ph.D. ⚗ (@PnBallWizard57) May 20, 2020
Man it’s so sad how people sell out
— Jason Martinez (@Peace_Unleashed) May 20, 2020
This tweet was brought to you by Reebok
I thought it said: "Tasting Site"
— ค(𝗢ᆺ𝗢ค 𝓚𝓪𝔃𝓾𝓷𝔂𝓪 | 𝚅𝚎𝚛𝚒𝚏𝚒𝚎𝚍 🅨 (@Kazuyalegrey) May 20, 2020
Well, COVID does knock out your taste buds, so I guess that works out
— Megan Stumph-Turner (@kc_megs) May 20, 2020
[via HuffPost, opening image via monticello / Shutterstock.com]
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