Pepsi has released a new Super Bowl commercial that directly parodies a viral pop culture moment from 2025, causing a major stir online. The ad features Coca-Cola’s famous polar bear mascot choosing Pepsi in a blind taste test and later being captured in an awkward kiss-cam moment at a concert, a clear reference to last year’s Coldplay concert scandal. The commercial, directed by Taika Waititi, has generated widespread discussion, with many calling it a clever marketing move and others questioning if the brand went too far by making light of a real-life situation that ruined careers.
The ad arrives just days before the Super Bowl on February 8 and coincides with the woman at the center of the original scandal breaking her silence about the intense personal fallout.
The Viral Moment That Inspired the Pepsi Ad
The source material for Pepsi’s parody is a 16-second clip from a Coldplay concert in Boston on July 16, 2025. During the show, the “kiss cam” spotlighted two people on a VIP balcony: Kristin Cabot, the head of human resources at tech company Astronomer, and her boss, CEO Andy Byron. The pair were seen embracing before suddenly realizing they were on the stadium’s giant screen. Cabot immediately covered her face with her hands, while Byron ducked out of the frame.
Coldplay’s lead singer, Chris Martin, commented on the reaction, joking to the crowd, “Either they’re having an affair, or they’re just very shy. I’m not quite sure“. A fellow concertgoer’s video of the moment was posted on TikTok, where it exploded, amassing over 100 million views and sparking global gossip. The viral clip had immediate real-world consequences. Both Cabot and Byron resigned from their high-profile positions at Astronomer following a company investigation.
Kristin Cabot Breaks Her Silence on the Fallout
For the first time, Kristin Cabot has spoken publicly about the incident and its devastating aftermath in interviews with The New York Times and The Times of London. Cabot, a 53-year-old mother of two, stated she was already separated from her husband at the time of the concert. She admitted to having a “crush” on Byron and said a “couple of High Noons” (an alcoholic seltzer) and other drinks led to a lapse in judgment.
“I made a bad decision and had a couple of High Noons and danced and acted inappropriately with my boss. And it’s not nothing,” Cabot told The New York Times. “I took accountability and I gave up my career for that. That’s the price I chose to pay“.
Cabot described the severe personal toll, including receiving between 50 and 60 death threats and being “doxxed,” with her private information published online. She said the harassment forced her family to temporarily relocate and deeply affected her children.
“My kids were afraid that I was going to die and they were going to die,” she said.
She also expressed frustration that, as a woman, she believes she bore the brunt of the public abuse and criticism following the scandal.
How Pepsi’s Ad Recreates the Controversy
Pepsi’s minute-long commercial, titled “The Switch,” tells a story of brand betrayal using Coca-Cola’s iconic polar bear. The ad begins with the bear in a blindfolded taste test, choosing a can of Pepsi Zero Sugar over Coke Zero Sugar. After a therapy session with director Taika Waititi, the bear is seen wandering city streets, looking longingly at people enjoying Pepsi.
The climax of the ad is a direct nod to the Coldplay incident. The polar bear attends a concert with another bear. They are featured on the stadium’s kiss cam, recreating the same bashful, hiding reaction that Cabot and Byron displayed. The ad is set to the Queen song “I Want to Break Free,” underscoring the theme of rebellion. A shortened version of this ad is scheduled to air during Super Bowl LVIII on February 8, 2026.
Online Reaction to Pepsi’s Marketing Move
The release of the full ad online has sparked a wave of reactions. Many viewers praised Pepsi for its creativity and for making a commercial with traditional CGI instead of artificial intelligence, a subtle jab at Coca-Cola’s recent AI-generated holiday campaigns.
“While coke is busy making AI ads, Pepsi is actually being creative! Great ad,” one viewer wrote online.
However, other reactions were mixed, with some questioning the ethics of building a marketing campaign around a real-life scandal that cost people their jobs and subjected them to harassment. Posts on social media asked if Pepsi “may have crossed the line” by taking a “direct shot” at the individuals involved. The Daily Beast noted on Threads that “The scandal-laden couple will now be parodied on the most-watched TV event of the year“.
The timing of the ad’s release is particularly striking, as it came out almost simultaneously with Cabot’s emotional interviews describing her ongoing struggle. This juxtaposition has led to discussions about the line between clever pop culture parody and making light of genuine personal tragedy.
Also Read:
Kristin Cabot says she is now searching for a new job but has been told she is “unemployable” in her field due to the notoriety of the scandal. She and Andy Byron have had minimal contact since last fall.
Also Read: How Marvelโs Wonder Man Blurs the Lines Between Hollywood and the MCU
Find more trending entertainment news and deeper insights into the stories everyone is talking about right here on VvipTimes.
