Poppi, a drink brand using low-sugar ingredients and prebiotics to make “healthy” soda, set out to create a viral influencer campaign leading up to its Super Bowl 2025 commercial. It involved sending a handful of social media influencers, like @kaelimaee, their own personal vending machines, filled with Poppi cans.

A US-based soda company called Poppi is currently getting dragged on TikTok for their out-of-touch influencer marketing campaign which revolved around vending machines. But why exactly is the company getting slammed so badly online? Let’s explain the whole thing from the start.

Poppi’s latest marketing campaign sent vending machines to influencers, sparking backlash. Critics question if the PR move went too far.

Popular soda alternative Poppi defends gifting full-sized vending machines after backlash - The brand has recently gone under fire for one of its marketing strategies