In Case You Missed It: Coca-Cola Super Bowl Ad Ignites Controversy

In Case You Missed It: Coca-Cola Super Bowl Ad Ignites Controversy

The Huffington Post and YouGov conducted a poll on February 3-4, 2014 to gauge response to the multilingual Coca-Cola advertisement originally aired during the 2014 Super Bowl. While a majority of respondents did not see a problem with the ad, an overwhelming majority of respondents agreed that English should be made the official language of the United States. In fact, only 19 percent of respondents said they favor the current status quo of no official language in the United States. Click here to read the Huffington Post results in their entirety.

U.S. English Chairman Mauro E. Mujica released the following statement in response to the ongoing controversy surrounding the multilingual ad:

“’America the Beautiful’ is such a beautiful song. By featuring it in their commercial, Coca-Cola touched on the multiculturalism of America. The United States is a melting pot, and our diversity is what makes us such a wonderful nation. But among the diversity, a common language is essential to unite us.

While all Americans are free to speak the language of their choosing in their daily life, proficiency in English is essential to participate fully in life in the United States. With more than 325 languages spoken here, English is the one language that allows us to communicate with one another, despite our differences. Businesses like Coca-Cola—as well as the federal government—should send the message that English is not optional. English is not simply one of many options in the United States, but rather is the key to success.”

U.S. English continues to work toward passage of Official English legislation on the local, state and federal level. To get involved in our current efforts, click here to visit our Action Center. And, for the latest updates, please visit us on Facebook.