Heineken is being praised for doing it right with their politically-charged ad in comparison to Pepsi’s recent controversial commercial that ended up getting pulled after heavy backlash.
“Hey @pepsi, this is how you make an ad about bridging the political divide,” tweeted one user.
“#Heineken ad unlike #Pepsi didn’t need Kendall Jenner or any other celeb to make a social impact. Just a socially aware marketing team!” tweeted another.
In the four-minute Heineken commercial, the beer-maker poses the question, “Can two strangers with opposing views prove that there’s more that unites than divides us?”
In the clip, six people with opposing political and social views are split up into pairs and are asked to complete a task before engaging in a Q&A. After completing the tasks, pairs are asked to watch a video in which everyone’s true beliefs are revealed.
“So transgender, it is very odd,” one man in the clip says. “We’re not set up to understand or see things like that.”
His partner’s clip plays a few seconds later, which reveals that she is transgender. Other pairs see a difference in their beliefs about climate change and feminism.
After watching the clips, the pairs are asked whether they want to go or sit down and discuss their views over a beer. They all choose to stay.
“I’ve been brought up in a way where everything is black and white, but life isn’t black and white,” the man says to his partner who is transgender.
Reactions on social media about the ad have been positive, with many comparing it to Pepsi’s failed ad starring Kendall Jenner. In the Pepsi fiasco, Jenner, a blonde wig perched atop her head, poses for a photo shoot as sign-carrying marchers take to the street. Encouraged by one of the marchers, Jenner pulls the wig from her head, strides through the crowd, and brings peace to the raucous scene by handing a police officer a can of Pepsi.
After the ad faced heavy criticism, it was pulled.
A representative for Pepsi has not yet responded to TheWrap’s request for comment.
Watch the video above, and see some Twitter reactions below.
This is obviously the anti-Pepsi. I am intrigued -> https://t.co/gZ2FlKDRRe
— Philip McKenzie (@FarFlungPhil) April 26, 2017
https://twitter.com/myhlee/status/857421860623056896?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.usatoday.com%2Fstory%2Fmoney%2Fnation-now%2F2017%2F04%2F27%2Fheineken-takes-politics-ad-thats-been-called-anti-pepsi-approach%2F307111001%2F
What a beautiful ad, @Heineken. I’m crying good tears. ? https://t.co/HIetR7HzPI
— Jordan Bach (@JordanBach) April 27, 2017
https://twitter.com/espinozpicker/status/857627513891237892?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.usatoday.com%2Fstory%2Fmoney%2Fnation-now%2F2017%2F04%2F27%2Fheineken-takes-politics-ad-thats-been-called-anti-pepsi-approach%2F307111001%2F
#Heineken ad unlike #Pepsi didn't need Kendall Jenner or any other celeb to make a social impact. Just a socially aware marketing team! ?
— nicki ? (@nickiknowsnada) April 27, 2017
https://twitter.com/Throwed_Minded/status/857454005001359360
Hey @Pepsi, here's how it's done. @Heineken takes on our differences, and nails it. https://t.co/jqcAZRuPZP pic.twitter.com/eXhhh45Ktf
— Michael Chase (@chasethisnow) April 28, 2017
https://twitter.com/KarlNelsonJR/status/857985480587173891