Missed Mark? Or Over Sensitivity?

Clearly the controversy was real, and clearly it was fueled by media such as this news coverage, but was the controversy warranted?

What do you think?

Before you respond, please consider the following statements (any of which you are free to reference or challenge in your response):

Television news shows are *for profit* businesses. They exist to make money.
Television shows (including the news) make money by getting your attention. (That’s why you will never see a news story about the seven billion people who made it home safe and sound last night. Too boring!) The more attention a show gets, the more money it can charge its advertisers.
Television news need to be sensationalized to turn heads.They find a “hot” button and they push it. You turn your head and look. You “pay” with your attention. Also: television news is a 24/7 thing these days, that means they have to “find” (or manufacture) a lot of hot buttons, and milk each one until no one is looking anymore.
The Black Lives Matter movement is important, real, significant, and valuable. It exists to forward social change.
Like all social movements, the Black Lives Matter movement needs media coverage in order to be taken seriously, stay on the public agenda, and further its cause.
People jump on bandwagons when they see, hear, or read in the media that a.) there is a bandwagon to jump on, and b.) a lot of other people are jumping on that bandwagon.
ASSIGNMENT:

Address as many of the following questions below as you like, in a reflection post of at least 250 words. More is better. – 9 points

Comment in a meaningful, substantial way (three sentences or more) on at least two of your classmate’s posts – 6 Points

(Include a friendly greeting with their name, and make your first comment on a post that hasn’t received any yet)
In addition to commenting, you may also click LIKE on posts you feel are especially well done, or with which you especially agree.
QUESTIONS TO EXPLORE: In this case, was there genuine insensitivity on the part of Pepsi? Or did the news media throw Pepsi under the bus to get your attention and make a profit? Or did Pepsi do something tone-deaf on purpose to get news coverage? And were people honestly offended? Or did the Black Lives Matter movement (perhaps wisely) take advantage of a genuine media opportunity to further its cause? And did most people even see the ad before reacting? Or were they responding to the rising tide of social outcry from everyone else, which was amplified by the media? And what about YOU? Did you see the ad and feel it was offensive or culturally tone deaf before becoming aware of any related news coverage? Did you conclude that Pepsi had made a blunder before you even saw the ad?