Though the “King of Pop” passed away nearly three years ago, his spirit continues to loom large over PepsiCo, which announced that it will ship out one billion cans of Pepsi adorned with a silhouette of Michael Jackson, who appears to be dressed in his duds from the “Smooth Criminal” video. According to USA Today, the announce comes on the heels of Pepsi’s new, global partnership with the estate of Michael Jackson and is part of the brand’s 25th anniversary celebration of the moonwalker’s Bad album and tour (couldn’t they just have waited a year to celebrate the 30th anniversary of his far superior album, Thriller?). Of course, opinions are split down the middle, with some calling it “macabre” and others hailing it as “brilliant.”
In addition to the cans, the AP reports that a TV spot featuring Jackson’s image will air in some markets and there will be chances to download remixes of the artist’s classic tracks and win tickets to Cirque du Soleil’s “Michael Jackson: The Immortal World Tour” performance. The late pop star’s relationship with Pepsi dates back to 1983, and while we’ll always remember the infamous hair-burning scandal, why not just reflect on the 1984 ad starring the future Carlton from Fresh Prince of Bel-Air that eventually made it to air (below).