Microsoft takes out 'God' in new TV holiday ad showing employees singing 'Let There Be Peace on Earth'
Microsoft just left God out in its latest television commercial.
The new advertisement shows Microsoft employees and members of a New York City choir singing "Let There Be Peace on Earth" right outside an Apple store.
While the scene itself looks very heartwarming, a WND reporter noticed that they reshuffled the lyrics so that the ad will not show them singing the line, "With God as our Father, brothers all are we. Let me walk with my brother in perfect harmony."
The company said the TV commercial, which was filmed last month, was one way for their employees to "deliver a special message to some old friends."
"To celebrate the holidays, Microsoft employees, who were selected from across the country, gathered together, meeting each other for the first time, at the new Microsoft 5th Ave. Store to spread some holiday wishes," a description of the video reads on YouTube.
It has received over 1.5 million views already since it was first posted on Dec. 1. Many commenters noted the strong competition faced by Microsoft—Apple and Google—and thought that maybe they made a "Christmas truce" when they created the ad.
"For all (of) us tech guys this ad is super meaningful, not just in the holiday season, but it also shows that both companies know and remember that they are also good friends," a user named "ShadowKrueger" writes.
Some viewers, on the other hand, also noticed the absence of God in the song.
"This (expletive) ad makes my eyes roll every time—vague, shlocky, hug-the-world, feel-good cheesy nonsense I could maybe handle at Christm... (Oh, so sorry, I mean 'the holidays')... but removing the line in the song about God tops it off—it's so sugary sickly PC it's almost hilarious," a sarcastic commenter named "Zapruder1984" writes.