The CEO of Anheuser-Busch, the parent company of the Bud Light brand, has completely disavowed the entire Dylan Mulvaney campaign and stated it was not a ‘formal campaign.’
Addressing the controversy for the first time, the company’s global boss, Michael Doukeris, told investors on Thursday, May 4, the decision to work with the trans influencer was a ‘calamitous mistake.’
“We need to clarify the facts that this was one can, one influencer, one post, and not a campaign,” Doukeris told the investors, adding that there is a lot of misinformation on social media regarding the brand’s team-up with the controversial TikToker.
“We will continue to learn, meet the moment in time, all be stronger, and we work tirelessly to do what we do best: Bring people together over a beer and creating a future of more cheers.”
The boss also told the investors that Bud Light ‘will triple its marketing spend this summer in a bid to woo customers back to the tarnished brand,’ per Daily Mail.
Moreover, he also claimed that the company has provided direct financial support to all the people, including the delivery drivers, wholesalers, and bar owners, who were directly affected by the controversy leading many people to boycott the brand and the company’s sales to plummet.
The Trans activist, 26, who gained millions of followers on TikTok and Instagram after transitioning into ‘girlhood,’ sparked controversy when brands like Nike and Bud Light announced her as their new spokesperson last month.
On April 2, Dylan, a biologically male individual who began transitioning from man to woman in 2021, shared a promotional video for Bud Lights on her Instagram and told her 1.8 million followers that she is so proud to be the brand’s newest spokesperson.
“Happy March Madness!! Just found out this had to do with sports, and not just saying it’s a crazy month! In celebration of this sports thing @budlight is giving you the chance to win $15,000! Share a video with #EasyCarryContest for a chance to win!! Good luck! #budlightpartner,” the caption read.
The posts received massive outrage and critical remarks from conservatives who accused the brands of pushing ‘gender propaganda’ per New York Post.
“Fellow trans woman Caitlyn Jenner slammed Nike for going ‘woke,’ and country music singer John Rich pulled cases of Bud Light from his Nashville bar.”
The partnership also caused the sales of the brand to plummet after many people, including musicians like Kid Rock and Country singers John Rich and Travis Tritt, severed ties with the brand.
Although two sources close to the controversy later revealed to The Daily Wire that no senior person at the company knew that a brand partnership was made with the Trans activist, the backlash still hasn’t stopped
“No one at a senior level was aware this was happening,” one source revealed.
“Some low-level marketing staffer who helps manage the hundreds of influencer engagements they do must have thought it was no big deal. Obviously it was, and it’s a shame because they have a well-earned reputation for just being America’s beer — not a political company. It was a mistake.”
According to a second source, “the company was likely going to implement a more “robust” process for evaluating controversial figures in the future to avoid another public relations nightmare.”
Amid the outrage, the brand’s parent company, Anheuser-Busch (AB) has lost billions of dollars.
However, earlier, AB chose to support Bud Light’s decision to team up with Dylan to make the brand ‘more inclusive’ and describe it as an attempt to “authentically connect with audiences across various demographics and passion points.”
“Anheuser-Busch works with hundreds of influencers across our brands as one of many ways to authentically connect with audiences across various demographics,” the statement read.
“From time to time, we produce unique commemorative cans for fans and for brand influencers, like Mulvaney. This commemorative can was a gift to celebrate a personal milestone and is not for sale to the general public.”
Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
Sources: Daily Mail – The Daily Wire
One can or one million AB ‘identifies’ with a person who has willfully embraced deviancy. The ‘one can’ seen by millions. Thanks for the non-apology AB.
First of all. KID ROCK Severing ties with them is more likely an IMPROVEMENT!
Second, if you would stop producing an inferior product, your target audience wouldn’t be trailer trash; coincidentally the same ignorant demographic who cried over your choice of spokesperson…