CE DESK 
Pepsi’s 2026 Super Bowl spot spoofs the viral Coldplay concert kiss cam affair between Andy Byron and Kristin Cabot using polar bears, blending cola rivalry with pop culture roast.
Pepsi dropped its Super Bowl LX commercial “The Choice” on January 29, 2026, stealing Coca-Cola’s polar bear mascot for a blind taste test where it picks Pepsi Zero Sugar over Coke Zero Sugar. Shattered by the betrayal, the bear seeks therapy from Taika Waititi before wandering streets and meeting a female Pepsi-loving bear who hands it a can.
The duo heads to a concert, where the jumbotron catches them cuddling with Pepsi cans in paw—a blatant parody of the July 16, 2025, Coldplay Boston show scandal. There, married Astronomer CEO Andy Byron and HR head Kristin Cabot were exposed kissing on kiss cam, abruptly separating in panic as their workplace affair went viral. Unlike the humans, the bears embrace the spotlight, cheering as Queen’s “I Want to Break Free” plays, celebrating their Pepsi loyalty.
PepsiCo CMO Mark Kirkham called it fun disruption, tying into 2025 Pepsi Challenge data where 66% preferred Pepsi Zero Sugar, driving 30.8% sales growth. The ad sparks cola war banter and meme frenzy, turning the couple’s embarrassment into brand buzz ahead of February 8’s Big Game.Â
Challenge over, winner decided: The choice is PEPSI pic.twitter.com/RrcOKUTjoc
— Pepsi (@pepsi) January 29, 2026
