Doritos has sacked a transgender influencer after uncovering a string of violent and sexual social media posts about children.
The Spanish arm of the crisp manufacturer had partnered with Samantha Hudson, 24, for a social media ad campaign called “Crunch Talks”, but deleted the video a day after it was posted.
After the ad was released, social media users discovered posts made by Hudson as a teenager which sparked calls for a boycott of the brand.
One of Hudson’s posts said: “In the middle of the street in Mallorca in panties and screaming that I’m a nymphomaniac in front of a super beautiful eight-year-old girl.”
Samantha Hudson described her posts as "barbarities" and "dark humour" in an apology
Getty/Doritos
Another detailed how she “want[ed] to do thuggish things” to a 12-year-old girl.
While one more said: “I hate women who are victims of sexual assault and go to self-help centres to overcome their trauma. Annoying sl**s.”
Hudson released a public apology for the posts – which have since been deleted – saying they were “pure provocation and in very bad taste”.
She continued: “Some tweets that I posted in 2015 are resurfacing and honestly I don’t know what to say, I don’t remember having written such barbarities.
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The shocking posts emerged after Doritos released the "Crunch Talks" ad campaign with Hudson
Doritos
“At that time I dedicated myself to saying nonsense, the heavier the better, because I thought that ‘dark humour’ was funny.”
Doritos Spain released a statement saying they had cut ties with the influencer after her old posts came to light, and the company “strongly condemn[ed] words or actions that promote violence, or sexism of any kind”.
Doritos refuted claims Hudson was a ‘brand ambassador’, saying the video was not part of any kind of ambassadorship deal.
The incident has sparked calls for a brand boycott – both in Spain and internationally – with Spanish political commentator Arturo Villa posting images of products made by Doritos owner Pepsi captioned: “You should know that if you buy any of these products you will be financing people like Samantha Hudson.”
Jenna Ellis called for consumers to “give Doritos the Bud Light treatment” after the beer brand faced a boycott for partnering with Dylan Mulvaney
TikTokDonald Trump’s former legal advisor Jenna Ellis called for consumers to “give Doritos the Bud Light treatment”.
Ellis’ comments reference a large-scale controversy involving American beer brand Bud Light after it partnered with another trans influencer, Dylan Mulvaney, last year.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said Bud Light owner AB InBev was associating with “radical social ideologies” through the ads, while Donald Trump called the partnership a “mistake of epic proportions”.
The boycott of the beer, which was heavily criticised by human rights groups, led to a sharp drop-off in sales for the brand – which was once the most popular in the US.