Doritos Spain finds itself entangled in controversy as the company's recent announcement of transgender artist Samantha Hudson as a brand ambassador sparks outrage over her previous controversial tweets involving a 12-year-old. The announcement has reignited ongoing debates surrounding the inclusion of the transgender community in brand campaigns, leading to calls for boycotts from conservative groups.

In April 2023, Bud Light faced a similar situation when it collaborated briefly with transgender TikTok star Dylan Mulvaney, resulting in a national outcry from conservatives who demanded a boycott of the company. Now, Doritos Spain, a branch of PepsiCo Spain, has joined the ranks of brands facing backlash for their choice of ambassador.

Samantha Hudson, a transgender artist from Spain, gained recognition through her social media presence and YouTube channel, where she shares fashion, beauty, travel, and lifestyle tips. Over the weekend, Doritos Spain announced Hudson as a brand ambassador, featuring her in a 50-second promotional video titled "Crunch Talks."

However, on Monday, the news of Hudson's appointment sparked controversy as previous tweets from her resurfaced. These tweets triggered accusations and calls for a boycott, particularly due to Hudson's humor involving a 12-year-old in 2015. Hudson, who was 15 years old at the time, claimed that her intention was to be funny. One of the tweets read, "I want to do thuggish things to a 12-year-old girl," followed by an example of an extreme sexual crime against a child. Another tweet allegedly mentioned a scenario involving an 8-year-old girl.

Resurfacing other tweets, some users accused Hudson of hating women who have been victims of sexual abuse. One translated tweet from Hudson, who identifies as non-binary, read, "I hate women who are victims of rape and who turn to self-help centers to overcome their trauma. k fat wh****"

Critics wasted no time expressing their disappointment with Doritos' choice of ambassador, with some accusing Hudson of being a pedophile. Social media platforms have been abuzz with calls for a boycott, emphasizing Hudson's controversial past statements. One user went to X, formerly Twitter, to slam Doritos for their decision and accused Hudson of being a pedophile, while also highlighting her open mockery of child rape victims. They wrote, "Doritos just picked Samantha Hudson as their brand ambassador in Spain... Samantha Hudson: -Admitted to being a pedophile -Identifies as a non-binary trans girl -Openly mocked victims of child r*pe -An advocate for 'annihiIating, completely destroying, and abolishing the traditional family'."

As the backlash continues, users reach out to Doritos directly, questioning their support for Hudson. One user addressed Doritos in Spanish, asking if they endorse Hudson's actions and tweeting an image of one of Hudson's resurfaced tweets.

Newsweek has reached out to both PepsiCo US and PepsiCo Spain via email for comments regarding the boycott and allegations surrounding Samantha Hudson. At the time of writing, neither company has addressed the issue.

Update 3/5/2024 11:00 am: This article has been updated to include translated versions of Hudson's posts as provided by reliable sources.