Pop culture is a big part of our lives, shaping how we see the world & entertaining us along the way! But every now and then, it gets things totally wrong which creates awkward moments and at worst, utter disasters. Here are 10 times when pop culture got it completely wrong. These are the moments that really stood out for entirely the wrong reasons!
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New Coke’s Flop in 1985
In 1985, Coca-Cola introduced “New Coke” to replace their classic formula. Yet they didn’t realize just how much people loved the original taste. Fans were furious! They demanded the return of their beloved drink & it didn’t take long for them to get their wish. After only 79 days, Coca-Cola admitted its mistake. They brought back the original recipe as “Coca-Cola Classic” and made “New Coke” into an absolute laughing stock.
Sonic the Hedgehog Movie’s Design Backlash
In 2019, the “Sonic the Hedgehog” movie trailer dropped and fans were shocked by Sonic’s design. Really, he looked nothing like the cartoon character we all loved! In fact, the negative reactions were so overwhelming that the studio took notice & they delayed the movie. Later, they redesigned Sonic to look more like his classic self. People much preferred his updated design.
The “Cats” Movie’s CGI Disaster
In the same year, the movie adaptation of the musical “Cats” came out & everyone was weirded out by the creepy CGI effects. The filmmakers had turned famous actors like Judi Dench and Idris Elba into unsettling human-cat hybrids that made us all uncomfortable! Beyond the horrific look, there were numerous CGI mistakes throughout the film so it’s no wonder that the film completely bombed at the box office.
Netflix’s “Cuties” Poster Backlash
In 2020, Netflix came under fire over the poster for the French film “Cuties.” Many felt the poster sexualized young girls and the marketing didn’t reflect the movie’s supposed criticism of the hypersexualization of children. In fact, some people boycotted the film—others went as far as to contact their local Senators and demanded the US Department of Justice to get involved. Later, Netflix apologized & replaced the poster. But the damage was already done.
Kendall Jenner’s Controversial Pepsi Ad
Pepsi released its tone-deaf drinks commercial in 2017. The ad featured Kendall Jenner leaving a photoshoot to join a protest, eventually handing a Pepsi to a police officer as a peace offering. People felt it trivialized serious social justice movements & protests against police brutality that were ongoing at the time. It forced Pepsi to quickly pull the ad and acknowledge they’d messed up.
The 2016 “Ghostbusters” Reboot Controversy
“Ghostbusters” is one of the most beloved franchises of all time so any reboots were always going to struggle. But the decision to reboot it with an all-female lead cast caused quite a stir. While some fans welcomed the new take, others were upset about changing the original lineup and the film faced a flood of online trolling & negative comments even before it hit theaters. Despite the talented actresses involved, it didn’t perform as well as hoped. The franchise later returned in 2021 but with films that continued the original series’ continuity.
Madonna’s “American Life” Video Backlash
Back in 2003, Madonna released the music video for her song “American Life” which included strong anti-war imagery, with violent scenes and political statements. She released it during the early part of the Iraq War & the video generated criticism before Madonna pulled it. She later put out a toned-down version. Several years later, the pop star acknowledged that her children’s lives had been threatened because of the video.
The “Crystal Pepsi” Flop in the Early ’90s
In the early 1990s, Pepsi tried out “Crystal Pepsi” which was a clear version of their famous cola. They pitched it as a pure & healthy alternative—but consumers were confused by a clear soda that tasted like regular Pepsi! Despite a big marketing push, the product didn’t catch on. The soda company discontinued the drink after a year.
The “E.T.” Video Game Disaster
After the hit movie “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial” was released, Atari quickly tried to capitalize on the film’s success with the E.T. video game. It backfired badly. The game was confusing & filled with bugs, leaving players frustrated and causing the game to sell poorly. In fact, many critics blamed the game for contributing to the video game industry crash of the early ’80s. Atari infamously buried many of the unsold cartridges in a landfill in New Mexico.
Quibi’s Quick Collapse in 2020
In 2020, Quibi launched as a streaming service with bite-sized videos & it was backed by $1.75 billion in investments, as well as lots of big-name stars. But users weren’t interested in paying for brief content and especially when platforms like YouTube offered plenty for free. Just six months after starting up, Quibi shut down. Soon enough, it had become one of the fastest failures in streaming.
Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
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