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Mountain Dew ad pulled amidst controversy

Posted at 8:23 AM, May 02, 2013
and last updated 2013-05-02 08:43:53-04

(WTVR) – PepsiCo is pulling an online ad for Mountain Dew that was criticized for portraying racial stereotypes and making light of violence toward women.

In the 60-second spot developed by African American rapper Tyler, The Creator, a battered white woman on crutches is urged by an officer to identify a suspect out of a lineup of black men played by members of his music group Odd Future. A goat is included in the lineup.

The goat makes threatening hissing remarks to the woman like, “You shoulda gave me some more….I’m nasty,” and “Ya better not snitch on a player.”

She eventually runs away screaming “No!” over and and over after he warns: “I’m a get outta here and I’m a do [Dew?] you up…”

Dr. Boyce Watkins, a social commentator, called it “arguably the most racist commercial in history.”

PepsiCo Inc. apologized in a statement and said it understood how the ad could be offensive. The company says the video has been removed from all Mountain Dew channels.

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