In support to international LGBT+ pride day, Coca-Cola launched a limited-edition can. A red Coke can with orange Fanta inside, featuring the message: “This Coke is a Fanta. So what?” A special can that ignores labels, challenges prejudice and empowers people. Showing that there’s nothing wrong about a Coke being a Fanta. The iconic cans carrying this simple message were intentionally designed to become a statement for the fight against prejudice.

With Coca-Cola owning both brands, Coke and Fanta, we had the best-case scenario. We created special iconic red Coca-Cola cans with the message printed on the surface: “This Coke is a Fanta. So, what?” challenging this homophobic bias. By the end we had the final product, a Coke with Fanta inside. The cans were initially distributed internally at Coca-Cola and to key influencers, but they took over social media and the streets, with people making their own DIY Coca /Fanta bottles, carnival costumes, clothes, cellphone covers, transforming this expression in a symbol for Coke and Brazilians to fight prejudice.

- 1 Billion media impressions for a local market idea, with 0 U$ media spent.

- Google search bar is one of the best thermometer of pop culture in Brazil and we changed it without media spent, only organic reach and engagement. If you searched “Essa Coca É Fanta” on Google in the past, the first thing that pops up on search was negative homophobic memes, all related to homophobic words. Now, “Essa Coca é Fanta” is related to empowerment and pride terms.

- Biggest search on Google history for the term

“That Coke is a Fanta”.

- Trending topic on Twitter.

- The can changed a Homophobic expression into a statement of pride.

This campaign shows how putting a simple can in the hands of the right people can change the world. The idea was to create a limited-edition Coca-Cola can carrying a message of equality that would go beyond the product and make people advocates for the brand. People instantly connected to this exclusive product, which sparked a spontaneous outpour of support for the LGBT+ cause and empowerment. A simple message that came in the shape of the product to fight prejudice and become a symbol of pride.

The past year, Coca-Cola Brazil saw a decline in sales among younger generations, mainly due to a lack of relevance with the brand, perceived as too old-school. As we explored potential business solutions, we quickly realized the first thing to do in order to convert them into the next generation of Coke drinkers was to first capture their hearts. With Coca-Cola’s track record of cultural relevance movements and being a connection point with the brand and younger audience, it was the right time to make a statement. While “Essa Coca é Fanta” has always been an offensive term, a brand like Coke taking action and reinterpreting its meaning into positive was the right move to re-connect with younger crowd. The solution was literally in our hands.

The world is full of homophobic expressions such as “He plays for the other team” or “He is a pillow bitter”. In Brazil, one of the most famous expressions is “Essa Coca é Fanta” which in English means: “That Coke is a Fanta”. For years, this expression was used to make fun and bully LGBT+ community in the country. Hundreds of offensive memes were created and even songs, all with the discriminatory intentions. It was time for us to do something about that.