Pepsi's New Motto: "Hate America First"

Pepsi CFO Indra Nooyi recently gave a speech at Columbia Business School in which she compared the U.S. to the middle finger on a hand. Pepsi quickly moved to damage control, saying that her remarks were mis-interpreted.

In her address last Sunday, the Chennai born Nooyi compared the five major continents of the world to the five fingers of the human hand.

First was Africa - the pinky finger - small and somewhat insignificant but when hurt, the entire hand hurt with it. Next was Asia -the thumb - strong and powerful, yearning to become a bigger player on the world stage.

Third was Europe - the index finger - pointing the way. Fourth was South America -the ring finger -the finger which symbolises love and sensualness.

According to some students who were present at the graduation ceremony and who fired up the issue in the blogosphere, Nooyi then reserved the remaining finger for the United States (and not North America, they say), launching into "a diatribe about how the US is seen as the middle finger to the rest of the world."

Apart from the anti-Americanism, One Hand Clapping says it was a lousy speech. The New Criterion also has more.

Maybe this was all a planned marketing tool, much like New Coke back in the 80s - except this time Pepsi is hoping to capture the Middle East/Anti-American clientele. If so, it actually might work.