Following all the controversy surrounding their ad with influencer Dylan Mulvaney, Bud Light are continuing to suffer.
This comes after they tried to rebrand again with a rather interesting advert.
The new ad took the company is a completely different direction.
It seems like parent company Anheuser-Busch InBev is attempting to increase sales for Bud Light.
As they recently lost a lot of dedicated drinkers, and were overtaken as number one in the US by Modelo!
Anheuser-Busch has released a statement on the controversy.
However, things still aren’t looking good.
The world is changing, and thankfully, as a society, we are becoming more accepting and inclusive of those who identify as LGBTQ+
Now, over the last decade, there has been a huge increase in people seeking treatment at gender identity services. The majority are teens suffering from gender dysphoria.
What exactly is gender dysphoria?
Gender dysphoria involves a conflict between a person’s s*x and the gender with which he or she identifies.
People with gender dysphoria experience high levels of discomfort with their own bodies, and they often report feeling as if it isn’t their own.
This could mean they align more with being male, female, or even neither.
The number of people identifying as non-binary has been rising steadily throughout the last few years.
‘Non-binary’ is the term used by people who don’t identify as male or female.
And there are a number of high-profile celebrities that have come out as such.
Demi Lovato.
Demi came out in 2021 on Instagram saying: “I feel that this best represents the fluidity I feel in my gender expression and allows me to feel most authentic and true to the person I both know I am and still am discovering,” as per Seventeen.
Sam Smith.
“I don’t know what the title would be, but I feel just as much a woman as I am man,” they said, as per the news outlet.
Ruby Rose.
The sensational Ruby Rose announced that they were gender fluid way back in 2014: “I am very gender fluid and feel more like I wake up everyday sort of gender-neutral,” they said, as per Seventeen.
Olly Alexander.
“I feel very non-binary, and you know, I identify as gay and queer and non-binary,” they said in 2016.
Miley Cyrus.
In a 2015 interview, the celeb said that they are gender fluid: “I’m just equal. I’m just even. It has nothing to do with any parts of me or how I dress or how I look. It’s literally just how I feel,” they said.
Bob The Drag Queen.
As per PopBuzz, the star tweeted “For the record I identify as Pansexual and non-binary,” in 2019.
Indya Moore.
“I’m non-binary, femme, Agender feels fitting too. My pronouns: they/them/theirs. I correct people often. At times they ignore me & I tolerate it to avoid conflict/irritation but it’s upsetting to feel like I’m ‘too much’ in a world that takes so much from trans people constantly,” they said in a tweet that has since been deleted.
And that’s just to name a few.
Historically, people — transgender people included — are either male or female.
But recently, some are insisting that they don’t quite fit into the categories of ‘man’ or ‘woman’, or ‘male’ or ‘female’, and thus identify as ‘non-binary.’
For a long time, we’ve lived in a world with people who identify themselves as either male or female…
The idea that there are only 2 genders is sometimes called a ‘gender binary,’ because binary means ‘having 2 parts.’
But now, as things are changing, people use ‘non-binary’ to describe genders that don’t fall into one of these 2 categories, male or female.
That isn’t all, either.
On top of people identifying as ‘non-binary,’ some people have been claiming that ‘male’ and ‘female’ are not the only genders out there.
Despite our physical anatomy…
They believe that there are over a hundred genders in which a person can identify.
There’s no doubt that there’s an increasing fluidity when it comes to some people’s gender identity…
And there are countless organizations around the world that work hard together purely to support people struggling with their gender identity, including the transgender community.
Now, the most famous celebrity to have come out as transgender is without a doubt, Caitlyn Jenner.
We all know who she is!
It seems she’s helped others in the spotlight be true to themselves…
And share who they really are with the world.
As long-time ESPN reporter M.A. Voepel has recently come out as transgender, revealing he’s transitioning to male.
Voepel opened up about his decision, sharing that he wants to show up as his “authentic self” when he receives the Naismith Hall of Fame’s Gowdy Award next month.
The reporter announced in a series of tweets on Tuesday: “I’m transitioning to male.”
“Fear can keep us paralyzed for decades, especially when we think we will lose all that is dear to us, including career,” Voepel said.
“At some point, you realize you need to have faith that your happiness/well-being is worth pursuing, and also have faith in other people’s kindness and grace.
Voepel added: “Grateful for a company that supports all of its employees, for terrific family and friends, and for societal progress.
“Please feel free to call me Voepel, MV, Michael, Mike; I’m good with them all.”
“I may look and sound a little different,” he continued.
“Glad to be who I’ve always been inside. Dedication to covering women’s sports, a lifelong joy as well as job, and admiration for all involved — players, coaches, execs, fans, referees, colleagues — that stays exactly the same. Thanks!”
Another popular trans influencer is Dylan Mulvaney.
The TikTok star has recently hit headlines for her collaborations with beer brand Bud Light and sports brand Nike.
However, some conservatives weren’t happy with the partnerships.
With certain bigots claiming the brands are “pushing gender propaganda.”
One such transphobe was Kid Rock.
He took umbrage with the collaboration and posted a bizarre video of himself on social media shooting a case of Bud Light with a gun.
However, Howard Stern has shared some strong words about Kid Rock’s protest.
“I thought there must be a piece of the story that I’m missing,” Stern said.
“I’m not bothered by gay people or transsexual people. They don’t impact my life, they don’t hurt my life. I love when people are in love. You wanna be a woman? Be a woman. You wanna be a dude, be a dude. Be whatever you f***ing want.”
“As long as you ain’t hurting anybody, I’m on your team,” he added.
“I wish I could call Kid Rock and have him come on the show and just tell me ‘Why are you so upset about this? How is this hurtful?’ I don’t know why he got so upset,” Stern continued.
“Kid Rock, I know him. He’s got a great life. He transitioned from some kid in Michigan to a rock superstar! I’m really dumbfounded by why someone would care so much that they would blow up a can of Bud Light and say, ‘F*** Anheuser-Busch.’ I don’t get it.”
Bud Light has stuck by their decision to collab with Mulvaney.
“Anheuser-Busch works with hundreds of influencers across our brands as one of many ways to authentically connect with audiences across various demographics and passion points,” a spokesperson for the company told Fox News.
“From time to time, we produce unique commemorative cans for fans and for brand influencers, like Dylan Mulvaney. This commemorative can was a gift to celebrate a personal milestone and is not for sale to the general public.”
And it seems the collab has hit Bud Light where it hurts.
Right on their bottom line.
Shares of Bud Light’s parent company have fallen by nearly 4% — knocking down the company’s market capitalization from $132.38 billion to $127.13 billion on Wednesday, the New York Post reports.
And that’s not all.
Sales of Bud Light have fallen some 70 percent, Nana Akua of the Daily Mail claims.
And Bud Light isn’t the only brand being hit by the hatred of transphobia.
Mulvaney’s collaboration with Nike has also come under fire.
Mulvaney posted a sponsored image of her wearing Nike.
And the transphobes were not happy about it.
One TikToker posted a video in protest.
In Chatterbox Mama’s since deleted video, the TikToker said: “Nike, you should be ashamed of yourself. You chose a little boy with no breasts and some junk in his pants to represent real women.”
“I will never, ever buy a Nike product for as long as I live and there are millions and millions and millions of women just like me.”
“We are the queens, your consumers hit you where it hurts, and that’s right in your pocket,” she continued. “I challenge every real woman that is sick of this nonsense. It’s a great night to burn my Nike bras.”
She then burns her Nike sports bras, and encourages other women to do the same.
Mulvaney then spoke out about the furor.
She opened up on Tuesday’s episode of iHeartRadio’s Onward with Rosie O’Donnell podcast.
“The reason that I think I am so…I’m an easy target is because I’m so new to this,” Mulvaney said. “I think going after a trans woman that’s been doing this for like 20 years is a lot more difficult. I think maybe they think that there’s some sort of chance with me…But what is their goal?”
“I’m not worried about the people talking about me on their podcasts, I’m worried about their listeners,” she added. “And I also think that it’s just a heavy time. And it’s time to step up, for sure.”
Megyn Kelly then offered her view.
“If Bud Light had used Caitlyn Jenner, would I be having the same reaction?” Kelly said on her most recent podcast ep.
“I admit, I would not be,” she continued.
“Caitlyn Jenner is a trans woman. Caitlyn Jenner doesn’t run around trying to say, ‘Trans women are women! Trans women are women!’”
Kelly also described Jenner as a “genuinely dysphoric” person who “finally found the courage to transition late in life and hasn’t been obnoxious.”
“[Jenner] understands there are differences, and that trans women should not be competing against women in women’s sports…” Kelly went on.
“I don’t think Caitlyn Jenner would think it’s appropriate for Caitlyn to be modeling Oil of Olay or a sports bra company.”
Kelly added: “Dylan dresses like a little girl and prances around fake hotel rooms, throwing her legs up in the air as though this is what a woman is. Like, give me a break!”
“This Dylan character is humiliating womankind and the people at Bud Light who allowed this are buying into it,” Kelly concluded. “They’re promoting it so it needs to stop.”
Country singer Zach Bryan then offered his perspective.
“I just think insulting transgender people is completely wrong because we live in a country where we can all just be who we want to be It’s a great day to be alive I thought,” he Tweeted.
He continued: “And yo I don’t support transgender people attacking swimmers I just have family transitioning and have blood to defend here No one threaten me pls.”
Sheryl Crow, the singer-songwriter, responded to Bryan with a “Thank you” and a heart emoji.
Bud Light then released a statement addressing the Dylan Mulvaney controversy.
It read: “As the CEO of a company founded in America’s heartland more than 165 years ago, I am responsible for ensuring every consumer feels proud of the beer we brew.”
“We’re honored to be part of the fabric of this country. Anheuser-Busch employs more than 18,000 people and our independent distributors employ an additional 47,000 valued colleagues.”
“We have thousands of partners, millions of fans and a proud history supporting our communities, military, first responders, sports fans and hard-working Americans everywhere.”
“We never intended to be part of a discussion that divides people. We are in the business of bringing people together over a beer.”
“My time serving this country taught me the importance of accountability and the values upon which America was founded: freedom, hard work and respect for one another.”
“As CEO of Anheuser-Busch, I am focused on building and protecting our remarkable history and heritage.”
“I care deeply about this country, this company, our brands and our partners. “I spend much of my time traveling across America, listening to and learning from our customers, distributors and others.”
“Moving forward, I will continue to work tirelessly to bring great beers to consumers across our nation.”
Country singer Riley Green also offered their opinion on the situation.
At a Nashville concert, he changed the lyrics of his 2019 hit “I Wish Grandpas Never Died,” Newsweek reported.
Instead of singing “And coolers never run out of cold Bud Light,” he sang: “And coolers never run out of cold Coors Light!”
“Thanks for knowing your audience @RileyGreenMusic,” one fan wrote.
“Good for him! He can say or sing whatever he wants. First Amendment right??” another said.
Another country singer then joined in on the protest.
In a viral video, a fan threw a can of the stuff up to him on stage, which he proceeded to destroy.
However, fans noticed that in the background of the clip was Queen’s hit ‘Another One Bites The Dust’.
Queen are famous for having one of the most famous LGBTQ+ frontmen of all time in Freddie Mercury.
“I wonder if they know they’re playing a song from a band famous for having one of the most queer musicians in history,” one Twitter user wrote.
A restaurant has also gone viral for removing Bud Light from its menu …
In a Facebook post, Joe Penovich, the owner of the Grills Seafood Deck and Tiki Bar, explained his decision.
“It is true we made the decision to remove Bud Light because of their support of something that is in direct opposition to our Biblical faith.”
“Setting aside a deeper dive into our Biblical viewpoints for now, we believe transgenderism is a social experiment causing irreversible damage to a growing population of younger and younger children.”
“We will not align with it in any way.”
“We are prayerfully asking God how to separate from corporations such as Anheuser-Bush that are promoting and attempting to profit from this [social] experiment.”
But amidst all this chaos, Dylan Mulvaney is thriving.
She then took to TikTok to speak out about the controversy.
In a groundbreaking video, she claims she’s been “having crazy deja vu” over the transphobia she’s faced.
“I’ve always tried to love everyone, even the people that make it really, really hard, and I think it’s OK to be frustrated with someone or confused,” Mulvaney said.
“But what I’m struggling to understand is the need to dehumanize and to be cruel.”
“I just don’t think that’s right. Dehumanization has never fixed anything in history ever.”
“But I’m just going to go ahead and trust that the people who know me and my heart won’t listen to that noise,” she said.
The Wall Street Journal reported that Anheuser-Busch, the company that owns Bud Light, is gifting a case of Bud Light to all employees who work with the company’s wholesale distributors.
This is in the hope of smoothing over any tension between the company and the distributors of the beer.
The company is also planning a new ad campaign to try and move on from all the drama.
Mulvaney then took to social media to reveal the results of her facial feminization surgery.
One person commented: “Did Audrey Hepburn and Natalie Portman have a baby?? STUNNING !!!
“Yes!!! Gorgeous. The face? Beautiful. The dancing? Phenomenal! Congrats, Beebee!” another added.
Michel Doukeris, the CEO of Bud Light parent Anheuser-Busch InBev, told the Financial Times there has been some misinformation.
Claiming that this one-off gift to Mulvaney wasn’t part of an advertising campaign.
“We will need to continue to clarify the fact that this was one can, one influencer, one post—and not a campaign, and repeat this message for some time,” Doukeris revealed.
Mulvaney then hit out at her haters once more.
In an interview with LGBTQ digital magazine, Them, she said: “I prefer not to name any of those people, because it gives them the satisfaction of believing they’re on my mind.”
“It shows my followers that I’m standing up for myself, but also pushes that their narrative is loud enough to matter.”
“I really do like being me, but you can get to a point where if you read enough things about yourself, you could be like, ‘Screw Dylan Mulvaney. Who is this b****.'”
“So, right now, I’m thinking about longevity — how do I hopefully have a career that goes on for the next 40 years? And how do I be happy outside of social media? Because that’s what I think I’m retraining my brain to figure out: All the other aspects of my life have to be just as important as that one.”
It’s since been announced that Bud Light is no longer the number one beer brand in the country.
CBS News has reported Bud Light’s parent company Anheuser-Busch InBev (ABI) sold $297 million worth of the beer for the four weeks ending May 28 – a 23% drop!
And what is the new number-one beer brand?
Mexican beer brand Modelo Especial, with a whopping $333 million in sales – a 15% increase!
However, country singer Garth Brooks has confirmed he will still be supporting Bud Light.
He claims he’ll serve the beer in his Nashville bar, The Friends In Low Places Bar & Honky Tonk.
“Yes, we’re going to serve every brand of beer. We just are,” he told Billboard.
“It’s not our decision to make. Our thing is this, if you [are let] into this house, love one another.”
“If you’re an a**hole, there are plenty of other places on lower Broadway.”
Brooks has doubled down on his decision on his Inside Studio G livestream.
“I get it, everybody’s got their opinions. But inclusiveness is always going to be me,” he said.
“I think diversity is the answer to the problems that are here and the answer to the problems that are coming. So I love diversity. All inclusive, so all are welcome. I understand that might not be other people’s opinions, but that’s OK, man… they have their beliefs, I have mine.”
“So, here’s the deal, man, if you want to come to Friends in Low Places, come in. But come in with love, come in with tolerance, patience.”
“Come in with an open mind, and it’s cool.”
“If you’re one of those people that just can’t do that, I get it,” he concluded. “If you ever are one of those people that want to try, come.”
Bud Light also revealed a major promotion for July 4th.
It’s offering a new $15 rebate during the July 4 holiday weekend!
The rebate applies to purchases of up to $15 made between June 15 and July 8, according to the terms of service.
This would make the beer essentially free in areas where 15-packs sell for less than $15.
Mulvaney herself even hit out at the brand admits all of this.
“One thing I will not tolerate people saying about me is that I don’t like beer. Because I love beer and I always have,” Mulvaney said in a video.
“I’m bringing it up because what transpired from the video was more bullying and transphobia than I could have ever imagined.”
“And I should have made this video months ago, but I didn’t, and I was scared of more backlash, and I felt personally guilty for what happened.”
“So, I patiently waited for things to get better ― but surprise, they haven’t really. And I was waiting for the brand to reach out to me, but they never did,” she continued.
“And for months now, I’ve been scared to leave my house, I have been ridiculed in public, I’ve been followed, and I have felt a loneliness that I wouldn’t wish on anyone. And I’m not telling you this because I want your pity, I’m telling you this because if this is my experience from a very privileged perspective, know that it is much, much worse for other trans people.”
“For a company to hire a trans person and then not publicly stand by them is worse, in my opinion, than not hiring a trans person at all. Because it gives customers permission to be as transphobic and hateful as they want ― and the hate doesn’t end with me, it has serious and grave consequences for the rest of our community,” Mulvaney went on.
“I’m going to celebrate the fact that no matter how many thousands of horrific messages, or news anchors misgendering me, or companies going silent, that I can look in the mirror and see the woman that I am and that I love being.”
Watch the video here …
Bud Light’s even tried to make a comeback with an ad that caught the attention of everyone.
And it looked like they reverted back to a male-focused tack in its advertising strategy.
The ad featured Kansas City Chiefs’ tight end Travis Kelce, surrounded by other men as they crack open a can of Bud Light in their backyard together.
Titled “Backyard Grunts with Travis Kelce,” all the men are making grunts and moans as they sit down into their lawn chairs.
The ad is a huge 180 from their recent partnership with trans influence Dylan Mulvaney.
And lots of people are wondering where the company will go next.
But it looks like the ad didn’t save them, and things are getting worse.
Many Anheuser-Busch distributors say they are resigned to their painful Bud Light losses — and that they have given up trying to gain back customers.
“Consumers have made a choice,” said an executive.
“They have left [Bud Light] and that’s how it’s going to be. I don’t envision a big percentage of them coming back.”
What do you think?