“NO!” Sha’Carri Richardson breaks all the rules in her debut Sprite ad

Sha’Carri Richardson stayed true to her rebellious personality in her debut Sprite ad as a part of the recent “Obey Your Thirst” campaign.

The fastest woman in the world is making history as Sprite’s first partner and is considered one of two skilled athletes who, 30 years after its founding, helped the beverage company relaunch its iconic “Keep Your Thirst” campaign. In Richardson’s 30-second spot, the American track and field star says “No” to all the external opinions and pressures placed on her.

“Sha’Carri has to follow the rules,” says a sports commentator on TV.

“No,” Richardson replies.

“Respect the image,” the photographer tells her during the photo session.

“No,” Richardson replies.

Sitting at the table with her mother and grandmother, Richardson hears the command from her grandmother, “Obey your Big Mama” and “and your mother,” her mother tells her.

“No,” Richardson says, then laughs and tells the moms he’s just joking.

Along with Richardson, Sprite released one other “Obey Your Thirst” ad with Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards recreating commercial from 1994 with an episode from its original star, NBA legend Grant Hill.

Given the good-faith manner in which Richardson and Edwards expressed their confidence and unwavering originality, each athletes did a wonderful job of representing Sprite’s message of authenticity to a brand new generation of sports fans.

“Anthony and Sha’Carri are true culture creators who embody what it means to obey your desire and pursue your dreams with determination, making them the perfect partners to live out the campaign’s mantra of always striving to be your best and reach your full potential,” – said AP Chaney, senior creative director of Sparkling Flavors. “Both spots are really funny and Sprite’s voice has a lot of comedic value.”

Richardson continued to rise to the occasion despite the criticism and adversity she faced. Her dedicated pursuit of greatness and self-expression has proven attractive to major brands corresponding to Sprite and Nike as she seamlessly blends elements of hip-hop culture, sports, entertainment and fashion.

“The ‘be true to yourself’ spirit of Obey Your Thirst resonated with consumers in 1994, and we are confident it will continue to resonate in 2024.” – said Brian Rogers, senior brand director at Sprite.

“Because now more than ever, younger generations are bombarded with messages about who they should be and how they should behave. Sprite is the antidote to today’s cultural heat – expectations, pressures, opinions, advice and noise – as a brand that empowers fans to challenge the status quo and embody their authentic selves.”