Pepsi is pulling its Kendall Jenner ad after backlash

Pepsi announced Wednesday it is pulling an ad just one day after it originally debuted.

The beverage giant said it was removing the advertisement, which featured the model Kendall Jenner attending a protest, and halting further rollout of the campaign.

"Pepsi was trying to project a global message of unity, peace and understanding," the company said in a statement, reported by the Wall Street Journal. "Clearly we missed the mark and we apologize. We did not intend to make light of any serious issue."

"We also apologize for putting Kendall Jenner in this position," the statement continued.

The commercial immediately sparked controversy when it was released Tuesday, with critics saying the ad was tone deaf and co-opted imagery from a Black Lives Matter protest.

Critics included Bernice King, Martin Luther King Jr.'s daughter.