Coopers Have Come Out In Support Of Marriage Equality Via An Awkward Apology Video
"Coopers Brewery is and has always been supportive of diversity."
Coopers Brewery has been copping it from every angle over their involvement in that weird marriage equality video put out by the Bible Society of Australia. First there was the outrage, followed by the threats of boycott, and then the spot-on piss take by the folks at The Feed. Now the family-owned brewery has hit the next stage in the bad PR cycle: the awkward public apology.
In an attempt to win back the nation’s many, many beer drinkers, the brewery’s Managing Director, Dr Tim Cooper, and its Director of Finance and Corporate Affairs, Melanie Cooper, have released a video apologising on behalf of the company and throwing their support behind marriage equality.
“On behalf of the Coopers board and senior staff, we are incredibly saddened by the impact our involvement with the Bible Society has had on our valued Coopers drinkers and our extended family,” said Dr. Cooper. “Coopers never intended to make light of such an important issue, and would never, and did not approve the making or release of the Bible Society video debate.”
“Coopers Brewery is and has always been supportive of diversity and encourages individualism,” added Ms. Cooper. “Our company supports marriage equality.”
The pair went on to say that the brewery had cancelled the release of its Bible Society commemorative cans and would be taking steps “to show further support for our community, including joining Marriage Equality Australia.”
I think what I like most about the video is how heartfelt it is. You can tell how passionately they feel about this issue by the way their eyes move as they read their cue cards just off screen. Still, a win is a win!
To give credit where credit is due, apologising for this fiasco was absolutely the right thing to do. It’s been great to see the public taking a stand on this issue, and the result – a big old mea culpa and a pledge of support for marriage equality – is proof that public action can lead to change.
Not a beer drinker – but impressed to see Coopers has backflipped, cancelled the bible beer and come out in support of Marriage Equality. ?
— Stephanie Bendixsen (@hexsteph) March 14, 2017
Never too late to do the right thing & if my Christian friends have taught me anything it's the virtue of forgiveness. TY @coopersbrewery https://t.co/rk5zLYZEp1
— Jason Ball (@jasonballau) March 14, 2017
Mardis Gras Director James Brechney, whose petition to boycott the brewery attracted more than 1,600 signatures in just over a day, celebrated the victory on social media, writing that “marriage equality will happen when we try new things, employ humour and embarrass those that stand in our way, either by reputation or funds.”
As for Coopers, it’s hard to imagine them coming out of this whole thing unscathed. The cat is out of the bag re: their connection to the Bible Society, and now we all know about their frequent donations to the Liberal Party as well.
If the company really want to show their support for marriage equality, maybe the next step is to send some of that cash to an LGBTQI charity instead?