Super Bowl adverts: Coca-Cola and Airbnb among companies to take aim at Donald Trump

Patrick Grafton-Green6 February 2017

Coca-Cola, Airbnb and Budweiser appeared to take a swipe at Donald Trump in adverts aired during Sunday’s Super Bowl.

The adverts, which championed diversity, inclusion, acceptance and immigration, caused outrage among Trump supporters, who vowed to boycott some of the companies responsible.

Airbnb took an apparent anti-Trump stance with its #weaccept campaign, and the hashtag was trending on Twitter by Lady Gaga's half-time show.

The 30 second ad showed a diverse group of people, of various races, ages and religious backgrounds, alongside text that read: “We believe no matter who you are, where you’re from, who you love or who you worship, we all belong.

“The world is more beautiful the more you accept.”

It came following the US President’s bid to close borders to refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries: Iraq, Syria, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen.

Following the travel ban announcement, Airbnb offered "free housing to refugees and anyone not allowed in the US".

It added in a statement on Sunday night that it aims to provide short-term housing for 100,00 people “in need” over the next five years.

Meanwhile the Coca-Cola advert played out to a version of America is Beautiful in a number of different languages.

It also had a message of diversity and inclusion, featuring people from many different faiths and backgrounds.

The company said in a statement that the advert “promotes optimism, inclusion and celebrates humanity”.

It was the same ad that Coca-Cola used at the 2014 Superbowl, but this didn’t stop it causing outrage amongst Trump’s support, and the hashtag #BoycottCoke was quickly trending on Twitter.

Furious Trump supports also called for Budweiser to be boycotted, following an advert telling the story of Anheuser-Busch co-founder and German immigrant Adolphus Busch's journey to America in 1857.

Anheuser-Busch Vice President Ricardo Marques said in a statement: “This commercial shows the start of Budweiser's journey,

“And while it is set in the 1800s, it's a story we believe will resonate with today's entrepreneurial generation - those who continue strive for their dreams.”

The #BoycottBudweiser hashtag was started by people who disliked the ad’s seemingly pro-immigration message.

The National Football League and Fox, the broadcaster of the Super Bowl, aim to avoid explicitly political advertisements during the broadcast, and say commercials should not be “for viewpoint or advocacy of controversial issues.”

The Super Bowl is considered television’s biggest advertising stage.

According to the New York Times, the price for a 30-second advert was US$5m this year, up from $4.8m in 2016.

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