Had Pepsi had any bad publicity?

Yes, Pepsi has had instances of negative publicity throughout its history. Here are some notable examples:

Syringe in Can: In 1993, Pepsi faced a major crisis when syringes were found in Pepsi cans in several cities across the United States. This led to a massive product recall and severely damaged the company's reputation.

Discrimination Lawsuit: In 2021, PepsiCo faced a class-action lawsuit alleging racial discrimination against Black employees. The lawsuit claimed that Black employees experienced pay disparities, limited promotional opportunities, and a hostile work environment compared to their non-Black peers.

Product Contamination Concerns: On several occasions, Pepsi products have been linked to contamination concerns. In 2009, bottles of Pepsi cola were recalled due to possible glass fragments. Similarly, in 2015, several countries suspended the sale of Pepsi products after traces of a carcinogenic substance were found in them.

Controversy in Advertising: Pepsi's advertising campaigns have also come under scrutiny. Notably, in 2017, the company's advertisement featuring Kendall Jenner sparked public backlash for appearing to trivialize the Black Lives Matter movement. Pepsi was accused of exploiting social justice issues for marketing purposes and ultimately pulled the ad after facing immense criticism.