Does Coca-Cola prohibit “Jesus Loves You” on custom cans?

While the world-famous American soft drink company Coca-Cola has recently launched a custom cans campaign, a viral claim surfaced on social media stating that the company does not allow “Jesus” to be printed on custom cans, while other religious figures can be included. This claim has sparked widespread discussion and confusion among consumers. However, upon investigation, we discovered that the claim is misleading. 

This is about our investigation of this video claim.

Social Media Claim

In recent weeks, a viral claim circulated on Facebook, stating that a user was unable to customize their Coca-Cola cans with the text “Jesus loves you.” However, the post also alleged that Coca-Cola allows users to input names of other religious figures, excluding Jesus.

This claim quickly gained traction, resulting in a significant number of reactions and comments from other users on the platform.

The following screenshot is captured from the above Facebook user who says Coca-Cola does not allow “Jesus Loves You” on custom cans.

Facebook Post | Archived Link

Similarly, the above viral claim was also found and posted on Instagram recently, with a claim pointing that “BREAKING: Apparently Coca Cola doesn’t support its Christian customers. You’re allowed to put any religious name on your custom can, except Jesus”.

Instagram Post | Archived Link

Given the claim’s extensive dissemination and the considerable attention it has received from the internet community, we believed it was necessary to perform a fact-check on the above subject.

Fact Check

Fact Crescendo monitors and verifies such claims through the official Coca-Cola custom can service, company announcements, and relevant news updates. This research has led us to the following truths:

To test the claim that the Coca-Cola Store accepted “Allah loves you” but not “Jesus loves you”,  Fact Crescendo submitted both phrases. Neither was permitted, and the same applied to “God loves you” and “Buddha loves you”.

The website’s explanation for these rejections is as follows:

Coca-Cola’s policy on custom cans reflects its commitment to maintaining a neutral and inclusive brand image. By not allowing religious phrases like “Jesus Loves You” or “Allah Loves You,” the company aims to avoid alienating or offending any specific group.

Coca-Cola Store | Archived Link

Here are some key points elaborating on the above decision:

1. Brand Neutrality: Coca-Cola positions itself as a universal brand that caters to a diverse global audience. Allowing religious messages could be seen as taking a stance that may not resonate with everyone, potentially leading to backlash or division among consumers.
2. Inclusivity: The company’s branding strategy focuses on inclusivity, celebrating a wide array of cultures, beliefs, and lifestyles. By avoiding specific religious references, Coca-Cola aims to ensure that all customers feel welcome and included.
3. Potential Controversies: In today’s social climate, brands are often scrutinized for their messaging. Coca-Cola likely seeks to mitigate any risk of controversy or misinterpretation that could arise from religious phrases, which can be sensitive topics.
4. Focus on Positive Messaging: Coca-Cola often emphasizes themes of happiness, unity, and connection in its marketing. While religious phrases can convey positive sentiments, the company may prefer to keep its messaging more broadly focused on these themes without aligning with specific religious ideologies.
5. Consumer Feedback: The decision may also be influenced by consumer feedback and market research, indicating that many customers prefer brands that maintain a neutral stance on religion.

The Fact Crescendo team has also reached out to Coca-Cola via email to seek clarification on the viral claim concerning the company’s policy on custom cans. However, as of the publication of this article, there has been no response from Coca-Cola. We will provide updates as soon as we receive further clarification from them.

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Conclusion

Fact Crescendo found the claim in the viral post to be misleading. Coca-Cola’s policies prohibit customizing cans with trademarked names, political messages, names of countries, celebrities, religious figures, or any potentially offensive content.