In an attempt to boost sales, Coca-Cola has released an advertisement in Bangladesh that has sparked widespread outrage and condemnation. The 60-second commercial, which aired during the India-Pakistan cricket match, tries to distance itself from Israel by claiming that the beverage company is not an Israeli product.
The ad features a shopkeeper explaining to a young man that Coca-Cola is not from “that place” – a clear reference to Israel. The shopkeeper goes on to claim that the company has been enjoyed for 138 years by people in 190 countries, and that even Palestine has a Coke factory.
However, the ad has been met with fierce criticism and accusations of insensitivity and dishonesty. Many Bangladeshis have taken to social media to express their outrage, pointing out that the company’s factory in the occupied West Bank is located in an Israeli settlement considered illegal under international law.
The backlash has been so severe that Coca-Cola was forced to remove the ad from its YouTube and Facebook pages for several hours, only to quietly re-upload it later. The comments section on both platforms has been disabled due to an influx of angry messages.
The controversy is part of a broader backlash against Coca-Cola and other companies that have been accused of having links to Israel. The boycott movement has gained momentum globally, with many consumers calling for a boycott of firms that support Israel.
As the debate continues, it is clear that Coca-Cola’s attempt to distance itself from Israel has failed miserably. The company’s reputation has been severely tarnished, and its sales are likely to continue to decline in Muslim-majority countries like Bangladesh.
In the face of this backlash, it is clear that Coca-Cola needs to take a more nuanced approach to addressing the concerns of its customers. Until then, it seems unlikely that the company will be able to regain its market position in countries like Bangladesh.