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. Pepsi 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: 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. TopicsMusicTweet may have been deleted
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