Pepsi Fails to Score With iPhone App

LOS ANGELES — "Sex sells," or so most marketers claim, but Pepsi is discovering the hard way just how costly those sales can be, after its release of a controversial iPhone app.

Critics are calling AMP UP Before You Score "sexist," "insensitive" and "demeaning to women," for its portrayal of women, categorized by type, including "Cougar," "Out-of-Your-League Girl," "Trouble," and "Women's Studies Major."

Promoted as a "road map to success for your favorite kinds of women — 24 in all," the AMP app provides "surefire opening lines" for picking up women and reportedly encourages its users to boast about their results on popular social networks such as Facebook and Twitter by offering a "Keep a List" function. "Get lucky? Add her to your brag list," the app states. "You can include a name, date, and whatever details you remember."

Trying to diffuse some of the controversy surrounding what one critic calls "a great new case study for branded apps gone wrong," Pepsi apologized on its Amp Energy Twitter account.

"Our app tried 2 show the humorous lengths guys go 2 pick up women," AMP's tweet reads. "We apologize if it's in bad taste & appreciate your feedback."

At the time of this posting, AMP UP Before You Score is still available from the App Store.

Related:  

Copyright © 2026 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More News

Utah 'Porn Tax' Bill With VPN Provisions Passes State Senate

The Utah state Senate has passed a bill that would impose a 2% tax on the revenues of adult websites doing business in that state, and make sites liable if Utah minors use VPNs to circumvent geolocation.

Fast-Tracked Arizona Bill Includes Consent 'Catch-22' for Adult Sites

A bill advancing rapidly through the Arizona state legislature would impose new requirements for adult content uploaded online, including seemingly contradictory provisions that could effectively make it impossible for adult sites to operate in the state.

VirtualRealPorn Launches WebXR-Enabled Site

VirtualRealPorn has officially launched its new site, built on Web Extended Reality (WebXR) technology.

'MyAsianGFs' Launches Through Paysite.com

MyAsianGFs.com has officially launched through Paysite.com.

Corey Silverstein to Host Webinar on North Carolina Age Verification Thursday

Adult industry attorney Corey D. Silverstein has announced his latest "Legal Impact" webinar, titled "North Carolina AV Law — Content Creation Issues," to livestream Thursday at 4 p.m. (EST).

Ofcom Fines 8579 LLC $1.8 Million for AV Noncompliance

U.K. media regulator Ofcom on Monday imposed a fine of 1.35 million pounds (more than $1.8 million) against adult site operator 8579 LLC for failing to implement age checks as required for compliance with the Online Safety Act.

Pearl Industry Network Launches 'TrustLink' Creator Verification Platform

Trade group Pearl Industry Network (PiN) has launched TrustLink, its free creator verification platform.

FSC Updates Complaint in Tennessee AV Case, AG Motions to Dismiss

The Free Speech Coalition this week filed an amended complaint in its lawsuit challenging the Protect Tennessee Minors Act as unconstitutional, in response to which the Tennessee attorney general motioned for dismissal of the case.

Cherie DeVille Joins Woodhull Freedom Foundation 'Free Speech' Panel

Multi-XMAs winner Cherie DeVille will join the upcoming Woodhull Freedom Foundation panel series "Fact Checked by Woodhull," addressing free speech on Feb. 26.

Wisconsin AV Bill Moves Ahead, Minus Anti-VPN Provisions

The Wisconsin state Senate on Wednesday advanced a bill that would require adult websites to verify the ages of users, but approved an amendment striking proposed language that would have required sites to block virtual private network traffic.

Show More