Coca-Cola ad features same-sex couple kissing. Now the company is facing calls for a boycott.
Coca-Cola ads in Hungary featuring same-sex couples have caused quite a stir with some people in the country.
Some of those people are now calling for boycotts of the company.
What are the details?
Coca-Cola unveiled the advertisements for its new pro-equality campaign.
The advertisements show several same-sex couples showing affection to one another while sharing a Coke, and were unveiled in conjunction with Budapest's week-long "Love Revolution," which is an event similar to Pride month. One of the slogans connected to the ad reads, "Zero sugar, zero prejudice" and "Love is love."
What are people saying?
A senior member of the conservative ruling party has called for a Coca-Cola boycott over the offending ads.
Supporters of Prime Minister Viktor Orban's nationalist conservative Fidesz party, which opposes same-sex marriage, have also objected to the ads.
Istvan Boldog, Fidesz's deputy speaker, said that people should boycott Coca-Cola over its "provocative" new campaign. Fidesz said that Hungarians have a right to choose whether they want to continue supporting the company.
CNN reported that calls for a boycott are underway because of the campaign. A related petition has pulled in more than 34,000 signatures.
A translated portion of the petition states, according to CNN:
Until now, large companies in Hungary have not advertised with openly gay content and messages. Do not be illusory, this is a test. If Hungarian society accepts this, there will be more and more steps. Posters, commercials, films, rainbow products, etc. And as we continue to slide down the slope, it will become increasingly difficult to stop.
Hungary currently recognizes legal unions for same-sex couples.
What has Coca-Cola said?
On Monday, Coca-Cola commented on the campaign controversy.
"We believe both hetero- and homosexuals have the right to love the person they want the way they want," a statement from the company said.
Coca-Cola added that the Hungarian campaign is in alignment with their views.
"Coca-Cola Company strives for diversity, inclusion and equality in our business, and we support these rights in society as well," a company spokesperson said a statement, according to CNN. "As a long-standing supporter of the LGBTQI community, we believe everyone has the right to love the person they choose. The campaign currently running in Hungary reflects these values."
