The Viral Reason Sierra Mist Rebranded To Starry (2024)

Fans of the beverage Sierra Mist were disappointed when the drink disappeared in January. At that time, PepsiCo announced that the lemon-lime soda would be discontinued and replaced by a new drink called Starry. The beverage company described Starry as a “soda for a generation of irreverent optimists,” and the brand calls Starry “the next choice of the new generation” on the PepsiCo website.

Now, a TikTok creator, Cierra Mistt, is speaking out about the soda name change. She claims that PepsiCo took legal action against her, due to her name’s likeness to PepsiCo’s soda Sierra Mist. Her accusations have gone viral on platforms like TikTok, sparking conversations and speculations.

TikToker, Ciera Misst is known for creating engaging flight attendent content. She said in a video that she’s been using her online name since platforms like AOL Instant Messenger were popular. She claimed in a YouTube video from July 2023, that PepsiCo had accused her of a trademark infringement. In this video from July 2023, she followed her claim by saying that she couldn’t reveal much more due to “legal reasons.”

Cease and Desist, Sierra Mist

In more recent videos, she stated that the beverage company gave her a cease and desist letter and wanted to sue her for “copyright infringement and defamation.” She continued, “Apparently, my content and being a spicy flight attendant doesn’t align with their core values.” The TikToker said she almost agreed to their demands to change her name. However, she and her lawyer discovered the company’s rights to “Sierra Mist” had expired. Since Mistt felt like she was being “intimated and gaslit” by the company, she bought the copyright.

According to the Copyright Office, copyright protection lasts only for a limited time period. After protection expires, the work enters the public domain. If someone purchases the copyrights, then the previous holder is notified. The Trademark Factory, the trademark office does not remind you to renew your registration. They will wait to see if you, the owner, your attorney, your trademark agent, or another interested party reminds you to submit the renewal. If the trademark owner is not interested in renewing and misses the deadline, the mark is removed from the register and considered abandoned.

The content creator did note that after obtaining the rights for Sierra Mist she was able to go after PepsiCo legally. However, the beverage company pulled off what she called a “PR move of rebranding.” She continued, “They have been around long enough to know that just switching the names adds more emphasis on questions versus the actual rebranding process.” So, she also claims that they added the “extra-ness” of “adding new flavors and ingredients.”

PepsiCo has not responded to Cierra Mistt’s claims. Take a look at her full video below. It’s worth noting that the video may not be suitable for work due to language.

Caution: 6 Foods You May Want to Avoid at Restaurants

• Tap Water

  Even with filtration in place, restaurant water might not be as pristine as one would assume. A study conducted by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences revealed that approximately 3-10% of water systems in North America have annually violated health standards set by the Safe Drinking Water Act, and this includes restaurants, as reported by the water filtration company, Quench. Unfortunately, it’s not uncommon to find germs and chemicals in restaurant tap water that could potentially affect the health of patrons. Common impurities detected in tap water supplies consist of microorganisms like bacteria, germs, parasites, and viruses, as well as substances like lead, chlorine, aluminum, pesticides, and others.

  

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• Raw Sprouts

  If sprouts aren’t properly stored and cleaned, they can become quite risky. Unfortunately, when ordering food at a restaurant, we may not witness this process. Sprouts are commonly cultivated in warm, moist conditions, which makes them an ideal breeding ground for bacteria, according to Health Digest. Recent outbreaks of E. coli and Salmonella have been potentially linked to these greens.

  

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• Drink Garnishes

  Bartenders often don’t have to follow the same stringent sanitary standards as the kitchen staff. As a result, the fruits used in drinks are likely to be unwashed, and they might sit out for days without refrigeration. According to Good Housekeeping, it’s worth giving a second thought to that citrus fruit you might be adding to your drink while dining out. A study revealed that 70% of these sliced fruits carry “over 25 different types of germs.” Contrary to popular belief, even alcohol doesn’t seem to do the trick in killing these germs. Good Morning America visited six restaurants and discovered that the lemons were teeming with “fecal matter” and even harbored the dreaded E. coli bacteria.

  

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• Fish

  Consider giving those impromptu “All-You-Can-Eat” fish special days a second thought. The fish served on such occasions is often leftovers from a shipment received a few days prior, which means it may not be at its freshest. According to Healthline, fish not stored at the proper temperature might become contaminated with a toxin known as histamine, which is produced by bacteria in the fish. Moreover, Healthline highlights that cooking at regular temperatures does not eliminate histamine, making it a potential cause of food poisoning.

  

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• Bottled Ketchup

  Whether your ketchup bottle is already on the table at a restaurant or brought to you by the server, chances are it has been handled by multiple people throughout the day or even longer. Making it a potential carrier of germs. Reader’s Digest explains that the reason these same bottles keep circulating is that the ketchup in each of them is often “married.” This means that as the volume of ketchup decreases in individual bottles, servers will combine the contents of several bottles into one. However, there is a downside to this practice: you may end up consuming ketchup of an unknown age or expiration date, leading to an unpleasant taste.

  

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• Fresh Squeezed Juices

  It might be worth reconsidering your choice, just as you skip adding garnishes to your drink. Freshly squeezed juices can be teamed with bacteria, unlike pasteurized juices. A study conducted by the MSU Extension reveals that most commercially sold juices in the United States are processed or pasteurized to eliminate harmful foodborne illness bacteria. However, when fruits are freshly squeezed into juice, there is a risk of harmful bacteria lingering in the finished product.

  

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Kayla is the midday host on Detroit’s 105.1 The Bounce. She started her career in radio back in 2016 as an intern at another Detroit station and worked her way here. She's made stops in Knoxville, TN, Omaha, Ne and other places before returning to Detroit. She’s done almost everything in radio from promotions to web, creating content on social media, you name it. She’s a true Michigander, born and raised. So, you can catch her camping or vacationing up north to exploring the downtown Detroit or maybe even catching a sports game. During her free time, Kayla enjoys watching movies, roller-skating, crafting, and music festivals. She and her husband together dip into many of the great things Michigan has to offer. Together they also like to travel. A few hobbies of hers include wine and beer tastings, crafting, hiking, roller skating, movies, home improvement projects, gardening, and festivals. She’s always looking to take on more local events happening in the community. She loves connecting with the community. When writing, Kayla covers topics including lifestyle, pop culture, trending stories, hacks, and urban culture.