Culture

Mountain Dew Pulls Ad After Complaints of Racism

Created by the front man of the hip-hop group Odd Future

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PepsiCo says it's pulling an outrageous Mountain Dew commercial that has offended online viewers in recent days due to sensitivities in terms of racism and violence toward women. The 60-second spot, which is still live on a few individuals' YouTube channels, depicts a badly battered woman on crutches who is being pressed by a cop to pick a suspect out of a police lineup of five African-American males and a goat named Felicia. 

The actors are members of the music group Odd Future in an unusual video series created by the alternative hip-hop ensemble's co-founder, Tyler, The Creator. In a spot that drew a wave of criticism this week, the goat Felicia—in a male voice—taunts the battered woman with phrases like "snitches get stitches, fool," "keep your mouth shut" and "I'm going to get out of here and do you up."