Kendall Jenner Called out for Cultural Appropriation In Tequila ad

“Keeping Up with The Kardashians” star Kendall Jenner is yet again involved in a questionable ad campaign, but this time it’s not for Pepsi, but her own brand of 818 tequila.  

Jenner was accused of cultural appropriation for “doing her best impression of a Mexican laborer” while promoting the launch of 818, which is named after her posh California area code.  

In a video, the supermodel is seen wearing pigtail braids, a hat tied around her neck, and an oversized drab flannel. She also drove a pickup truck through Mexican agave fields and led a grey horse by its reins while carrying a bottle of tequila.  

“Kendall Jenner roamed through fields of agave on horseback to announce the launch of her 818 tequila brand in California with moody visuals shared to Instagram on Monday,” one user tweeted. “Despite tequila’s deep-rooted Mexican history having no affiliation to the affluent community she grew up.”

“Oh no, not Kendall Jenner going for the Mexican look, as if it wasn’t enough of her family members appropriating black culture,” accused another. “Just noticed the car even has a broken window with gray tape to cover it, she went for the whole “I’m a poor worker” look as if she doesn’t drive super expensive cars.”

 After the internet outcry, Jenner deactivated comments on her post, which inflamed angry Twitter users more. “Not Kendall Jenner disabling her comments on the post of her appropriating our culture for her tequila launch,” tweeted one.  

 Unfortunately for the model, this isn’t her first brush with social media backlash. In 2017, she participated in a Pepsi commercial that was pulled off the air, after she was accused of cultural appropriation. In the ad, she joined a protest after whipping off a blonde wig and offered a can of Pepsi to a police officer as she was cheered on by the crowd.

Marie Finn