You probably missed one particular Occupy Wall Street-inspired commercial in the bevy of corporate ads seen during Super Bowl XLVI.
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They only showed the ad once, in between the Doritos dog killing a cat in the name of the tortilla cheese snack, or the Kanye West-infused Bud Light Platinum commercial.
The clip in question starred Sir Elton John, Flavor Flav and X-Factor winner Melanie Amaro. In the ad, King Elton John isn’t satisfied with the acts brought in front of him to perform.
If he approves of your talent you’re granted a cold can of Pepsi; if he hates you, you’re banished down to the dungeon after he tells you, “No Pepsi for you!”
Draped in his jewel-encrusted robe with matching crown, the King sits on his throne judging musical acts that he likes and dislikes.
Enter Amaro, who comes face-to-face with the King and belts out her rendition of “Respect,” the soulful women’s anthem sung by Aretha Franklin during the 1960s.
After hearing her song, the King grants Amaro a can of Pepsi in his boisterous yet reluctant voice, “OK, Pepsi for you.”
Amaro responds, “No, Pepsi for everyone.”
The King is then dropped into a dungeon where he is laughed at by the court jester: Flavor Flav!
Viewing the ad through the lens of the OWS movement, it’s easy to identify the King as the oligarchy power who wants everything for himself – in this case Pepsi – while getting satisfaction through ridiculing others, namely the undeserving fools who perform for him.
The commercial underlines the message that has been raging on between the haves and the have-nots in America since the OWS movement began in September of 2011.
Now I’m not sure if Pepsi realized what they were doing, but the message was clear.
The weak rises up to banish those who continue to reign supreme over the underprivileged.
The ad couldn’t have been clearer: the wealthy king in his golden shoes, ruby filled hands and blinged out throne judges the lonely singer whose voice shines through, demanding RESPECT.
It’s the same thing the Occupiers did and continue to do now. Their voices screamed out for respect and equality.
In this unassuming Pepsi ad you see that it’s about ALL – not ONE.
