The emblem displayed on the cop's shirt sleeve in the video that has now been pulled bears a striking resemblance to the SFPD’s very own. It has the words, ‘San Francisco Police’ above an eagle spreading its wings similar to police uniforms. The only significant difference appears to be the colour. It is understood that Pepsi did not seek permission to use the copycat emblem and that the SFPD is now working with the City Attorney to determine if producers crossed the legal line by using the logo, which the City considers proprietary.
Backlash
Pepsi has withdrawn and apologised for the new ad campaign after the company faced a backlash for a video that co-opted the imagery of protest movements to sell soda. Bernice King, the daughter of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr, joined the fray on Wednesday, posting a photo of her father with the tag, ‘If only Daddy would have known about the power of #Pepsi.’ The video was released on 4 April, the 49th anniversary of King’s assassination.
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