Pepsi apologises for 'sexist' iPhone app
Related Articles
Tuesday October 13 2009
Pepsi has apologised for releasing an iPhone app that encouraged men to brag about their sexual conquests.
The AMP UP Before You Score app also provided phone users with chat-up lines for "getting lucky" with 24 different types of women – including foreign exchange students and college girls.
The software provoked criticism and derision when news of its release broke yesterday, with many people complaining that it was sexist and denigrated the status of women.
Thousands of protests were marshalled on Twitter under the hashtag #pepsifail, prompting the soft drinks giant to issue an apology over the official Twitter feed of AMP Energy, the new drink that the app was released to promote.
"Our app tried 2 show the humorous lengths guys go 2 pick up women. We apologise if it’s in bad taste & appreciate your feedback. #pepsifail," the tweet read.
But the company did not promise to withdraw the programme, which is still available to download for free from the App Store.
The app's description encourages users to share the names of their sexual partners with their friends online.
"Get lucky? Add her to your Brag List. You can include the name, date and whatever details you remembers," it states. "Keep your buddies in the loop on email, Facebook or Twitter."
Pepsi's unsophisticated appeal to masculine bravado went down particularly badly with readers of Jezebel, a US blog aimed at women.
"I think my favourite is 'Out-of-your-league Girl' because really, if you're stupid enough to try and use this app, every girl is out of your league," wrote one commenter.
- Matthew Moore
© Telegraph.co.uk
