Coopers is continuing to face a backlash over the controversial content series launched by The Bible Society, as well as its support of The Liberals. SBS/Viceland show The Feed has now created a parody.
The original spot has received significant backlash with people boycotting the beer brand, despite Coopers denying any involvement in the content.
The Bible Society has now confirmed that Coopers played no role in the creation of the content series.
In a statement released yesterday it said: "Bible Society is entirely responsible for the ‘Keeping it Light’ video. It was not sponsored by Coopers. No money has changed hands between Bible Society and Coopers in regards to this campaign.
"Bible Society remains grateful to Coopers for both the release of light beer commemorating our bicentenary and their support through their foundation for the distribution of bibles to the Defence Force and those who need them. The interest from the public in this campaign reinforces the message of the video – that it is important for Australians to have respectful conversations about serious issues – ‘keeping it light.’"
The Viceland clip starts off with people in a bar sharing what they love about Coopers, such as it being preservative free, family-owned and made in Australia.
SBS’s Mark Humphries sarcastically shares what he loves about the brand: “I love Coopers because they’ve donated over $86,000 to the Liberal Party since 2009.
“I love Coopers because they have feature heavily in The Bible Society’s marriage equality debate between two Liberal MPs.”
He finishes by saying: “I love Jesus because he turned water into wine, even though he bloody should have gone for a pale ale.”
SBS is also facing a backlash for the spoof, with it being called ignorant and offensive on Facebook.
When others in the Viceland video question why Coopers believes the marriage equality debate "is a debate we need to have”, Humphries shows the original statement from Coopers which described it as such. Coopers later changed its statement to distance itself from the series.
Coopers' first statement:
The Bible Society's website states that the video was made in partnership with Coopers but yesterday the organisation clarified to AdNews that the “video was produced solely by Bible Society Australia”.
The organisation says it has not had any requests from Coopers to stop running the video online, and has no plans to change it in any way. It was not able to tell us whether the five additional videos that had been planned as part of the series will go ahead, or whether they too feature Coopers.
AdNews is awaiting a response from Coopers on its statements about the series and whether it plans to take any action to halt the content, and how it will deal with the backlash it is facing.
Coopers' second statement:
The boycott, from people who see the series and the confusing statements from Coopers as a lack of support for marriage equality from the brewer, is rolling on.
One Surry Hills pub, The Hollywood Hotel, has decided to stop serving Coopers until the brewer makes a “positive response is received on the marriage equality debate”. While another in Melbourne took to social media to show it was dumping its Coppers stock.
https://twitter.com/rodcub/status/841115656468733952
Have something to say on this? Share your views in the comments section below. Or if you have a news story or tip-off, drop us a line at adnews@yaffa.com.au
Sign up to the AdNews newsletter, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter for breaking stories and campaigns throughout the day.