Poppi, a drink brand using low-sugar ingredients and prebiotics to make “healthy” soda, set out to create a viral influencer campaign leading up to its Super Bowl 2025 commercial. It involved sending a handful of social media influencers, like @kaelimaee, their own personal vending machines, filled with Poppi cans.

Poppi’s latest marketing campaign sent vending machines to influencers, sparking backlash. Critics question if the PR move went too far.

What she did get was a social media storm of fury over her having the gall to ask for such a big gift. The incident posed lingering question about influencer gifting: How much is too much? Well, a full-sized beverage vending machine appears to be too much,