Image source: Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
What was the Accusation?
In July of 2026, Pepsi was accused of trivializing consent after a promotional Threads post for Pepsi Wild Cherry used language that many readers interpreted as making light of sexual assault. The company’s official account posted that “Pepsi Wild Cherry is what happens when regular cherry stops asking permission.” The post was intended to market the “wild” aspect of the cherry-flavored soda, but critics argued that the phrase “stops asking permission” carried an obvious and harmful implication when read through the lens of consent. Screenshots of the post circulated on X and other platforms, where users criticized the copy as tone-deaf, disturbing, and inappropriate for a major consumer brand. Some critics also questioned how the post passed internal review before publication. Pepsi deleted the Threads post and issued a short apology saying the message had landed in a way the company never intended. The apology acknowledged the backlash, apologized to the audience, and confirmed that the post had been removed. Reaction to the apology was mixed. Some users said deletion was not enough, while others argued that the wording was simply misread as a failed joke about rebellious branding.
Key Apologia Strategies:
Good Intentions, Mortification, Corrective Action
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Pepsi Apology post on Threads:
Sources
Francis, M. (2026, July 8). Why is Pepsi apologizing? Viral Wild Cherry post sparks outrage. USA Today. https://www.aol.com/news/why-pepsi-apologizing-viral-wild-130931945.html
KARK. (2026, July 10). Pepsi apologizes for recent Threads post after backlash: “We hear you, we’re sorry”. KARK. https://www.kark.com/news/pepsi-apologizes-for-recent-threads-post-after-backlash-we-hear-you-were-sorry/
Mishra, S. (2026, July 9). Pepsi apologises, deletes post after Wild Cherry ad sparks backlash over phrase “mocking consent”. Moneycontrol. https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/trends/pepsi-apologises-deletes-post-after-wild-cherry-ad-sparks-backlash-over-phrase-mocking-consent-13969528.html
Pepsi. (2026, July 7). Our recent Wild Cherry post landed in a way we never intended [Threads post]. Threads. https://www.threads.com/@pepsi/post/DagPFCImj8O/our-recent-wild-cherry-post-landed-in-a-way-we-never-intended-we-hear-you-were/
