Understanding the Social Media Feud: What did Olipop comment on Poppi?

October 8, 2025 •

4 min read

In early 2025, prebiotic soda brand Poppi faced widespread social media criticism for a lavish influencer marketing campaign. As the backlash grew, many became aware of a new participant: Poppi's competitor, Olipop. The core question at the heart of the resulting brand rivalry was: What did Olipop comment on Poppi?

Quick Summary

An inside look at the public conflict between two prebiotic soda brands, stemming from Poppi's controversial influencer campaign and Olipop's subsequent comments online. The saga involves marketing missteps, rival commentary, and questions over health claims.

Key Points

Olipop's Commentary: Olipop commented on Poppi's influencer vending machine campaign, falsely claiming the machines cost $25,000 each and amplifying public criticism.
The Marketing Misstep: Poppi's 2025 campaign, which gifted expensive vending machines to influencers, was widely criticized as tone-deaf and wasteful, prompting online backlash.
Strategic Opportunity: Olipop's public comments were a deliberate strategy to position itself as a more relatable alternative and capitalize on its competitor's negative press.
Debunked Price Claim: Poppi refuted Olipop's cost claims, stating the $25,000 figure was fabricated and inflated.
Damage Control: Poppi's founder issued a video addressing the controversy, but the initial negative perception had already taken hold.
Health Claim Scrutiny: The incident occurred amid broader scrutiny of Poppi's marketing claims, with a separate class-action lawsuit filed over its "gut healthy" labeling.
Key Takeaway: The feud highlights the importance of transparent marketing and aligning brand actions with consumer values in the competitive functional beverage market.

The Viral Vending Machine Stunt

In the lead-up to Super Bowl 59 in February 2025, functional soda brand Poppi launched a high-profile marketing campaign that involved gifting custom-branded vending machines to 32 prominent social media influencers. The goal was to generate buzz and increase brand awareness among a younger, social media-savvy audience, similar to how Poppi's founders leveraged TikTok to build the brand's initial following. Poppi had previously found significant success with influencer marketing, even dedicating a 'Wild Berry' flavor to partner Post Malone in 2024. The vending machine stunt, however, dramatically backfired.

Backlash Against Poppi's Campaign

Instead of being excited, a large segment of the social media audience viewed the extravagant, pricey gifts as tone-deaf and wasteful. Critics argued that the money would have been better spent giving the products to public spaces like college dorms, hospitals, or nursing homes, rather than to already wealthy influencers. The campaign was seen as out of touch and alienating to the everyday consumer, fueling a wave of negative comments and criticism that went viral.

What did Olipop comment on Poppi?

Olipop, a major competitor also vying for market share in the functional soda space, saw an opportunity to capitalize on its rival's misstep. While the internet was already criticizing Poppi's campaign, Olipop's official brand TikTok account began leaving comments on viral videos about the controversy.

Specifically, Olipop commented with the following claims:

“also for the record, those machines cost $25K each lol”.
“32 machines times $25K per machine yikes”.

By amplifying the public's perception of Poppi's wasteful spending, Olipop positioned itself as a more relatable and accessible alternative. This move was considered a high-stakes, but strategic, competitive maneuver that prolonged Poppi's PR crisis and drew attention to the rival brand. Olipop, which has historically focused on educational content and emphasizing the science behind its product, contrasted its strategy with Poppi's influencer-heavy approach.

The Aftermath and Brand Fallout

Following Olipop's viral comments, Poppi and its co-founder Allison Ellsworth had to enter damage control mode. Ellsworth addressed the backlash in a TikTok video, refuting Olipop's cost claim as “fabricated” and “inflated by 60%”. She clarified that the vending machines were a long-term marketing investment and part of a broader campaign that would involve events and giveaways for consumers. Poppi's attempt at damage control was met with skepticism by some, with many still feeling that the initial optics were off.

The Poppi Class-Action Lawsuit

Beyond the vending machine saga, Poppi also faced a class-action lawsuit in mid-2024 concerning its "gut healthy" marketing claims. The lawsuit alleged that the amount of prebiotic fiber in each can (just 2 grams) was too low to provide meaningful gut health benefits as advertised. In contrast, Olipop contains a higher fiber content (9 grams) from a variety of sources. This legal battle added another layer of scrutiny to Poppi's marketing and product claims, further highlighting the competitive landscape.

Social Media's Role in Modern Brand Wars

The Olipop vs. Poppi saga serves as a modern case study in competitive marketing. Olipop's decision to weigh in on its rival's misfortune demonstrated the power of opportunistic commentary on social media, where a brand can insert itself into a conversation and shape public perception. The incident showed that while a great product is essential, a well-tuned brand narrative and an understanding of consumer sentiment are just as crucial for long-term success.

Nutritional Comparison: Olipop vs. Poppi

To make an informed decision between these two prebiotic sodas, it's helpful to compare their nutritional profiles, ingredients, and key features. While both are healthier alternatives to traditional sugary sodas, they have distinct differences.


Feature	Olipop	Poppi
Prebiotic Source	Blend of botanicals and fiber (chicory root inulin, kudzu root, etc.)	Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) and agave inulin
Fiber per Can	Up to 9 grams	Up to 2 grams
Calories per Can	35-50 calories	25 calories or less
Sugar per Can	2-5 grams of added sugar (natural stevia/cassava syrup)	5 grams or less of added sugar (organic cane sugar)
Sweeteners	Stevia leaf, cassava root syrup	Organic cane sugar
Flavor Profile	Often nostalgic, classic soda flavors	Fruit-forward with a tangy ACV aftertaste

What the nutritional differences mean for consumers

Higher Fiber Intake: For those prioritizing fiber intake for gut health, Olipop offers a significantly higher amount per can.
Lower Calorie Option: Poppi provides a lower-calorie beverage for those watching their intake closely.
Sweetener Preferences: The choice between stevia in Olipop and cane sugar in Poppi comes down to personal taste and dietary considerations.
Flavor Experience: Poppi's tangy ACV note sets it apart from Olipop's more traditional soda flavors, catering to different palates.

Conclusion: More Than Just a Soda

The social media exchange between Olipop and Poppi was more than a simple jab; it was a defining moment in the competitive landscape of the functional beverage market. Olipop’s comments, though challenged, amplified a critical consumer conversation about influencer marketing and brand authenticity that Poppi was struggling to manage. The incident highlighted that even in the wellness-focused nutrition diet space, brand perception is a powerful force. For consumers, the takeaway is to look beyond flashy marketing and scrutinize product claims, particularly regarding nutritional value. For marketers, it serves as a cautionary tale on the risks of perceived extravagance and the high stakes of competitive commentary in the public social media forum.

Optional outbound link: For a deeper analysis of the marketing strategies, refer to this article from Insider Market Research on Poppi vs. Olipop: A Case Study in DTC vs. Retail Growth Strategies.

Frequently Asked Questions

Olipop commented strategically on viral TikTok videos criticizing Poppi's influencer campaign to leverage its competitor's negative publicity. By falsely claiming the vending machines cost $25,000 each, Olipop amplified the public perception that Poppi was being wasteful, positioning itself as a more accessible brand.

Ahead of the Super Bowl in February 2025, Poppi sent custom-branded, full-sized vending machines stocked with their soda to 32 influencers. The campaign backfired when social media users deemed the lavish gifts as wasteful and tone-deaf, suggesting the money could have been used to benefit the public instead.

No, Poppi disputed the cost claim made by Olipop. A spokesperson for Poppi stated that the $25,000 figure was “fabricated but inflated by 60%” and that the machines were a long-term marketing investment, not temporary gifts.

Yes, in May 2024, a class-action lawsuit was filed against Poppi, alleging the company made misleading "gut healthy" claims. The suit argued that the amount of prebiotic fiber in one can was too low to provide the advertised benefits and that the sugar content could offset potential health perks.

Olipop contains a higher amount of prebiotic fiber (up to 9g) from multiple plant sources, compared to Poppi's 2g derived from agave inulin and apple cider vinegar. Poppi generally has fewer calories, but Olipop has a more varied and scientifically supported prebiotic blend.

The incident teaches that brand authenticity and consumer perception are critical. Extravagant campaigns can backfire if they appear disconnected from audience values, while opportunistic commentary can be a risky but effective competitive strategy on social media platforms.

Based on the nutritional information, Olipop contains a significantly higher and more varied fiber blend, which is scientifically backed to support digestive health. Poppi's lower fiber content and apple cider vinegar may offer some benefits, but they are not as substantial as the fiber found in Olipop.