If the silence from the official sponsor of the Sochi Olympic Games concerning the Russian anti-gay law has some up-in-arms, its latest sales initative is unlikely to improve the situation. The "Share a Coke" marketing campaign organised in different countries has taken a new turn in South Africa. In addition to the list of more than 400 first names that can replace the brand's logo on the can, the South African version of the dedicated "Share a Coke" website allowed a virtual bottle to be customised with the inscription of your choice. However, some words such as "gay", "lesbian" or "homo" are refused by the platform and produce a strange error message. "Oops, let's pretend you didn't just type that. Please try another name".
This could lead you to think that only proper nouns or ones with no sexual connotation can be validated. However, the word "straight" ("heterosexual") comes up with no problem at all on the red and white label of the drink. Whilst the brand has since closed its virtual customisation service, it has still not explained these discriminatory restrictions. For their part, homosexual rights defence associations are calling for a boycott of the brand.
*Illustration from the Coca-Cola Facebook page : https://shareacoke.co.za
News in the same category
Berlin has just welcomed the first luxury grocery store exclusively for cats and dogs, with ready meals, grilled meat and small cakes. Newly arrived in Germany, this concept is now being developed in the United States.
The day after the Charlie Hebdo newspaper shooting, e-shops were already selling "Je suis Charlie" products. Whilst the majority are committed to donating their earnings, others have a purely mercantile aim.
With over 7.5-million photos of unicorns on Instagram, you’d have thought no-one could squeeze another unicorn into, or onto, anything else – well they have. But this one will be of more interest to the grown-ups.
Leeds will soon be getting it's very own luxury dessert restaurant. Haute Dolci, a gourmet dessert restaurant will be opening its doors for business at The Light on the 31st August.