Two ethical concerns arise:
| Theme | Key Findings | Gaps | |-------|--------------|------| | | Celebrities act as “meaning‑carriers” that can be transferred to brands (McCracken, 1989; Erdogan, 1999). | Limited attention to age as a factor in meaning compatibility. | | Gender & Empowerment Narratives | Feminist advertising research shows that empowerment framing can both subvert and reinforce gender stereotypes (Gill, 2007; Banet‑Weiser, 1999). | Need for nuanced analysis of empowerment when combined with “sweet” product metaphors. | | Audience Reception of Cross‑Demographic Endorsements | Mixed reactions are common when a celebrity’s image diverges from the product’s core audience (Brown & Fiorella, 2013). | Empirical data on European confectionery campaigns remain scarce. | | Ethics of Targeted Food Marketing | Concerns about marketing sugary foods to children are documented (Harris et al., 2020). | Little research on “adult‑celebrity + teen‑oriented product” configurations. | Sibel kekilli lollipops 16
Kekilli’s involvement can be interpreted through the lens of (Spivak, 1995): she embraces certain visual tropes (e.g., the candy‑themed aesthetic) to gain visibility while subverting them from within. Her performance exhibits “performative hybridity” (Koc, 2022) – she operates at the intersection of ethnic minority representation and post‑feminist empowerment , thereby challenging the monolithic narratives that often surround women of color in European media. Two ethical concerns arise: | Theme | Key
The “16” thus becomes a symbolic bridge: a reminder of childhood wonder, tempered by the sophistication of adult palate. | Need for nuanced analysis of empowerment when
The most viral moment came when a TikTok creator filmed herself biting into the lollipop, exclaiming, “It’s weirdly perfect!” The video amassed 4.2 M views and sparked a wave of “taste‑test” challenges that kept the brand trending for weeks.