This year Coca Cola ditched its lovable polar bears, opting instead for  for a more arousing Super Bowl commercial.

Coca Cola chose to go with an ad that they had to have known would spark controversy — but some call that good marketing. After all, the Super Bowl came and went and we’re still talking about the commercial.

The commercial in question is dubbed “It’s Beautiful”. The ad features a selection of people representing several ethnicities and singing the patriotic song “America the Beautiful” in eight different languages some of which were English, Hindi, Arabic and Tagalog.

The commercial even show two men rollerskating with their daughter. According to GLAAD (Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation), this was the first Super Bowl ad to feature a gay family.

Per GLAAD: The Coke commercial is the first time that a gay family has been included in a Super Bowl ad. #LGBT #Equality NOH8

— Lesley Goldberg (@Snoodit) February 3, 2014

The ad seemingly attempted to show America as an inclusive and culturally diverse country but many people were not thrilled.

The main point of contention with the ad, especially among Conservatives,  is that “America the Beautiful” was not sung entirely in English. The view of many is that America is a country routed in its own culture and traditions, part of that culture is the use of English. However, it should be noted that America does not have an official language.

“If we cannot be proud enough as a country to sing ‘America the Beautiful’ in English in a commercial during the Super Bowl, by a company as American as they come — doggone we are on the road to perdition,” said Allen West, former GOP Rep.

Many took to social networks like Twitter to express their dissatisfaction with Coca Cola’s ad.

Coke having a commercial with an American song in other languages… not cool. Coke. GTFO with that.

— KYBlackoutTFM (@KYBlackout) February 3, 2014

 

Always liked Pepsi anyway #fuckcoke #america

— Louie DiCicco (@L_DiCicco) February 3, 2014

 

Well.. I won’t be drinking #coke anymore. We speak English in the #USA. Get over it.

— Stephanie Weaver (@stphniwvr) February 3, 2014

As you might expect, there were some in favor of the multilinguistic ad.

@McGauley @coastlifeguy so… What language did Native American’s speak?

— Kelly (@Kelly_lynn10) February 3, 2014

That Coke commercial was fucking beautiful.

— Coast Life Guy (@coastlifeguy) February 3, 2014

Ok that multi-lingual America The Beautiful commercial wins for best #SuperBowl commercial in my book. #Merica #MeltingPot #ItsWhoWeAre

— Texan Gent (@TexanGentsCode) February 3, 2014

Image via YouTube