Earlier this month, you may recall Pepsi pulled its latest advert featuring Kendall Jenner co-opting political resistances such as the Black Lives Matter movement, suggesting world peace and police brutality can be solved with the simple gesture of a white woman handing a policeman a can of Pepsi.

As a result, Pepsi removed the advert from YouTube and apologised profusely to consumers, admitting: 'Pepsi was trying to project a global a message of unity, peace and understanding. Clearly, we missed the mark.'

Kendall Jenner Pepsi advert | ELLE UKpinterest
Pepsi

However, in the aftermath of Pepsi's blunder, Heineken has released a video highlighting the importance of debate, respecting opposing political and social points of view, and finding what unites, not divides, society – all over a beer, of course.

Titled, 'Worlds Apart', the video is in stark contrast to Pepsi' fist-biting advert, and sees six strangers split into pairs who meet to perform various activities together as a team before enjoying a refreshing cold beer.

Sounds simple enough, right?

Well, not exactly.

Heinken advert | ELLE UKpinterest
Youtube: Heinken

You see, the strangers were each paired off with someone who had a completely opposing political view, be it on climate change, transgender identity and feminism.

Serving as a platform to escape the echo-chamber of opinions on social media that blind our perspective of the wider world's views on politics, justice and equality, the video starts with the strangers participating in an 'icebreaker' activity, which involves each pair working together to make a table and stool together, sharing instructions, before describing themselves in five adjectives.

One man admits to his partner that he is: 'Frustrating. Solemn. I have ups and downs'.

Heinken advertpinterest
Youtube: Heinken

In another pairing, a woman describes herself as 'dedicated' and 'strong'.

The pairs are then instructed to describe three things they have in common.

One woman says to her partner: 'We know each other better than people who've known each other for 10 minutes, should.'

The opportunity enables the strangers to open up about their experiences, involving homelessness and isolation and also compliment each other on their attributes.

In the third section of the group activities, the pairs are asked to 'build bridges' which, in turn, turns out to be a wooden bar (clever ol' Heineken).

Heinken advertpinterest
Youtube: Heineken

Sitting down with a beer, the pairs are then asked to stand to watch a short film of themselves, in which they talk about their views on the world.

From one man admitting 'feminism today is definitely an excuse of misandry, manhating', another calling climate change 'total piffle' and transgender people as 'very odd', the pairs are stunned to hear their opinions publicly displayed and, more importantly, contradicted by their partners'.

One of the most chilling moments is when a transgender individual reveals on camera she is 'a daughter, a wife… I am transgender', much to her partner's shock.

Heineken advertpinterest
Youtube: Heineken

With the choice to leave their partners or 'discuss [their] differences over a beer]', the man who disagrees with transgender identities jokingly walks off (not that funny on watching, we must admit) and returns to sit with his partner, much to our relief.

Opening up about their differences of opinions and how they've come to believe their views, one individual says he's realised: 'Life isn't black and white.'

In light of Pepsi's insensitive advert, Nivea's recent 'white is purity' tagline in its advertising, and Shea Moisture's suggested 'whitewashing' of black women, it's refreshing to see a brand like Heineken perfectly address how to tackle political opposition and differences and make the right kind of statement.

Watch the advert below:

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Katie O'Malley
Site Director

Katie O'Malley is the Site Director on ELLE UK. On a daily basis you’ll find Katie managing all digital workflow, editing site, video and newsletter content, liaising with commercial and sales teams on new partnerships and deals (eg Nike, Tiffany & Co., Cartier etc), implementing new digital strategies and compiling in-depth data traffic, SEO and ecomm reports. In addition to appearing on the radio and on TV, as well as interviewing everyone from Oprah Winfrey to Rishi Sunak PM, Katie enjoys writing about lifestyle, culture, wellness, fitness, fashion, and more.