2. “Like A Prayer” Music Video and the Pepsi Fallout, 1989
At the time, it was the product endorsement heard around the world: Pepsi had signed Madonna to a $5 million deal to use “Like a Prayer” in a television spot, and in return sponsored Madonna’s upcoming world tour. But when the clip for the song caused controversy—portraying Jesus as a black man, and Madonna performing sexual acts while he’s nailed to the cross—Pepsi pulled the ad and the endorsement. The public called it sacrilegious; Coke fans couldn’t agree more.