Ben Platt’s lush, orchestral cover of Addison Rae’s whispery pop hit “Diet Pepsi” has become a late-summer viral sensation.
Platt performed the dramatic rendition at the Las Culturistas Culture Awards, which aired Aug. 5 on Bravo, delivering the song backed by several members of a string orchestra and emphasizing the tune’s climactic key change. Hosts Bowen Yang and Matt Rogers said the idea for an “Oscar ballad”–style take on a cultural moment came from wanting “something of the past year that was, like, kind of monoculture-y.” Rogers described his pitch to Platt as simple: listen to the song — then imagine it in a more cinematic arrangement. Platt reportedly jumped at the idea and “nailed that key change,” according to Yang.
The performance quickly spread online. A clip on Bravo’s TikTok account has drawn more than 3 million views, with viewers praising the emotional reinterpretation and calling for the cover to be released. By Aug. 10, Platt had posted that the live version — Diet Pepsi (Live from 2025 Las Culturistas Culture Awards) — was streaming on Spotify.
“Diet Pepsi” had been nominated for Record of the Year at the Culture Awards but lost to Lady Gaga’s “Abracadabra,” which Yang and Rogers performed during the ceremony.
Why it stuck
– The contrast between Rae’s original, whispery pop delivery and Platt’s sweeping, string-driven arrangement amplified the song’s emotional undertones, making the performance feel both novel and theatrical.
– The moment tapped into internet culture’s appetite for playful reimaginations of viral tracks — a familiar pattern that often turns unexpected covers into trending moments.
– The combination of a high-profile performer, a dramatic arrangement, and social sharing created the momentum that pushed the cover from a ceremony performance to a streaming release.
Suggested additions for a web post
– Headline options: “Ben Platt’s Orchestral Cover of ‘Diet Pepsi’ Goes Viral” or “Ben Platt Turns Addison Rae’s ‘Diet Pepsi’ into a Cinematic Ballad”
– Suggested tags/keywords: Ben Platt, Addison Rae, Diet Pepsi, Las Culturistas Culture Awards, viral cover, orchestral cover, TikTok
– Photo caption idea: “Ben Platt performs an orchestral cover of ‘Diet Pepsi’ at the Las Culturistas Culture Awards.”
– Embed recommendations: include the Bravo TikTok clip and the Spotify live track for readers to watch/listen directly.
– Social post prompt: “Ben Platt’s version of ‘Diet Pepsi’ — harmless fun or the song of the summer? Stream it now and tell us what you think.”
Brief summary
Ben Platt’s orchestral, emotionally driven cover of Addison Rae’s “Diet Pepsi,” performed at the Las Culturistas Culture Awards (aired Aug. 5), went viral after a Bravo TikTok clip amassed millions of views. The live rendition, noted for its lush strings and dramatic key change, was released to streaming platforms by Aug. 10. The original song had been nominated for Record of the Year at the awards but lost to Lady Gaga’s “Abracadabra.”
Hopeful angle
The moment highlights how pop culture can be playful and collaborative: a social-media-era pop hit reinterpreted through a cinematic lens, bridging audiences and showcasing how a single performance can give a song renewed life and reach new listeners.