Coca-Cola sparked backlash after reportedly briefly banning the words “Jesus” and “Trump 2024” from its custom cans.
For a time, the beverage giant appeared to allow support for Kamala Harris and allowed “Satan” and “Allah,” though the company appeared to fix the glitch after it went viral among conservatives online.
The updated version still bans any nicknames that are “trademarked, political in nature, names of countries, celebrities, religious figures, as well as anything that could be deemed offensive for other reasons,” the customization tool says.
After the apparent glitch circulated online, some called for a “boycott” of the company and others noted: “It’s funny how these things always seem to go in one direction.”
Coca-Cola did not immediately respond to a request for clarification about the system error or why it had apparently been fixed following the online outrage.
Coca-Cola sparked backlash after fans claimed it allowed customers to personalize cans with ‘Harris Walz 2024’ but seemingly banned ‘Trump 2024’
The customizer’s website bans any nicknames that are “trademarked, political in nature, names of countries, celebrities, religious figures, as well as anything that could be deemed offensive for other reasons.”
The gaffe was first shared by Facebook user Antwoine Hill, and circulated widely after being pushed by conservative TikTok account X Libs, which shared images of a can of “Harris Walz 2024” being allowed, but not “Trump 2024.”
Others continued to share videos of their attempts to put religious names on the cans, with “Satan” and “Allah” apparently allowed.
Attempts to put “Jesus Loves You” on the can were met with a warning that the company could not personalize the can with the word “Jesus.”
Some have pointed out that excluding the name “Jesus” would limit a common name for men in the United States, however, Coca-Cola’s website notes that “a first name may be accepted if a last name is added to the submission.”
The customizer notably blocks cans featuring political figures like Donald Trump, Kamala Harris, and Barack Obama, but does allow for other celebrities like Elon Musk.
Images shared online appear to show a Coca-Cola can customizer that allows “Satan” and “Allah” but bans “Jesus”
The customizer notably blocks cans featuring political figures like Donald Trump, Kamala Harris, and Barack Obama, but does allow for other celebrities like Elon Musk.
After the posts went viral, Hill said he was surprised that his pointing out the flaw sparked interest, but he held back the anger it sparked.
“I’m stating the obvious: the only name that generates so much backlash and hate is the name of Jesus,” he told the Daily Dot.
Amid calls from some conservatives for a boycott of the brand, he said he would support the move “if it sends the message that we stand for the name of Jesus.”
“I also feel very conflicted about all of this because I’m on the streets every day seeing much bigger problems: drugs, violence, homelessness,” he said.
“To me this doesn’t seem as serious as these issues, but I still won’t support any company that doesn’t support Jesus.”