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It is safe to say that Pepsi's latest ad, which seemed to suggest a sugary artificial beverage is all you need to solve police brutality, caused an overwhelming wave of outrage on social media.
The cringeworthy video -- from the buzzword-happy march of stock-photo-looking millennials to a random subplot about a Muslim photographer -- reaches its grotesque climax when privileged, white Kendall Jenner acts as a peacemaker between police and cheering demonstrators by handing a riot cop a can of Pepsi.
SEE ALSO:Here are the funniest reactions to Kendall Jenner's terrible 'woke' Pepsi adPepsi is all you need, apparently.
Besides all the funny jokes, the ad echoes a 1999 video by the Chemical Brothers for the single "Out of Control," as writer Dorian Lynksey first pointed out on Twitter:
Tweet may have been deleted
The music video, directed by W.I.Z., stars Rosario Dawson and Michel Brown as EZLN revolutionaries standing off against Mexican police forces.
Just like in the Pepsi ad -- minus the self-aware, parodic intent -- the protesters have a soda to thank for solving conflict with police.
In this case, Dawson downs a bottle of a brown, sugary drink called "Viva Cola", in front of thirsty cops:
Just as Michel Brown throws a Coca-Molotov which at the end of the arch reveals itself to be just an ad. "In the heat of the moment -- serve chilled," reads the motto.
As the camera pans out to reveal it being screened in a shop, real riots wage in the streets. The storefront is smashed and the video ends with footage of violent protests.
It's an ironic, dark commentary on the power of advertising -- 18 years before that Pepsi video.
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