The makers of Bud Light have come under fire from Donald Trump for catering to “the radical Left” after using a notorious transgender influencer to market the well-known beverage.
The former president criticized the beer’s parent firm, Anheuser-Busch, for hiring male Dylan Mulvaney after he gained notoriety for capturing his gender change on TikTok.
Trump complimented a conservative author in a post on his Truth Social platform. The author recently dubbed the ad campaign “a woke, clueless, incredibly dumb miscalculation.”
‘It’s time to beat the Radical Left at their own game. Money does talk—Anheuser-Busch now understands that. Great new Book by Wayne Allyn Root. Buy your copy today!’ Trump declared.
‘The Great Patriot Protest & Boycott Book’ was written by Root two years ago, and he has long been a devoted admirer of the 45th president of the United States.
Root advocates that consumers should “defund leftist woke companies.”
‘In short, conservatives and patriots must wield the power of the purse. Money talks. We have the power to change the direction of this country by changing the direction of corporate policy,’ Root proclaimed.
When Mulvaney received a commemorative can featuring her visage to honor her “365 days of being a girl,” the Bud Light debate was set off.
Mulvaney revealed her intentions to transition last year, and in December 2022, she underwent invasive facial feminization surgery.
In the horrifying procedure, a patient’s face’s bones are cut out and sanded down in an effort to soften male characteristics.
Conservatives and normal sane people, however, were incensed by the PR gimmick and charged the company with interfering in one of the most contentious culture war issues.
Sales of the beer instantly fell by more than one-fifth, raising concerns that the boycott would have a permanent negative impact.
Anheuser-Busch lost $6 billion in market value in just six days as a result of the video.
The market value of the beer titan was $113.33 billion, and the stock was trading at about a 5 percent decline in total share value.
Additionally, Bud Light dollar sales decreased by 6% in the first week following the publication of the video, whereas Coors Light and Miller Lite both saw increases.
Anheuser-Busch InBev’s U.S. operations president Brendan Whitworth stated on April 14 that he regretted the division brought forth by the company’s cooperation with Mulvaney.
“We never intended to be part of a discussion that divides people,” Whitworth opined. “We are in the business of bringing people together over a beer.”
In the latter part of April, two senior managers were placed on leave as a result of receiving death threats: Alissa Heinerscheid, vice president of marketing for Bud Light, and Daniel Blake, vice president of marketing for Budweiser.
After Kid Rock fired a machine gun at Bud Light cans and remarked, “F*** Bud Light, and f*** Anheuser-Busch. Have a terrific day,” other well-known figures criticized the company for their choice.
Bud Light marketing vice president Alissa Heinerscheid took a leave of absence and is being replaced by Budweiser global marketing vice president Todd Allen, AdAge reported. The company has also hired two consultants with experience in Washington, D.C.’s conservative circles to advise the brand moving forward.
Origin Advocacy consultants Sean McLean and Emily Lynch have been brought on to advise “general policy regarding the alcohol-beverage industry,” according to lobbying disclosure reports filed to the U.S. Senate on April 1.
McLean is a veteran of former President Donald Trump’s administration. He also served on the legislative staff of Texas Sen. Ted Cruz. Lynch has previously held policy staff positions under Republican Rep. Virginia Foxx and former Sen. Kelly Ayotte FOX Business reached out to Anheuser-Busch and McLean for comment.
Anheuser-Busch CEO Brendan Whitworth published a lengthy statement hoping to tamp down the animosity aimed at Bud Light and its parent company.
“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,” Whitworth wrote. He continued, “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.”
Comments that are being made over the controversy suggest that the support groups described in the statement might not be happy with the use of a transgender spokesperson on the beer. Industry experts told the New York Post on Tuesday that the controversy appears to have staying power and could lead to a company-wide boycott of Anheuser-Busch products.
A local Missouri distributor canceled an appearance by the famous Budweiser Clydesdale horses due to fears for the safety of their staffers.
But it seems that the company is now trying to diffuse the controversy with a new patriotic ad as well last week geared toward those patriotic Americans who have been dedicated customers of the beer. Fox Business reports that the ad was released Friday on social media, depicting the famous Clydesdales traversing America from New York City to the Grand Canyon, passing by scenes in the America heartland as a narrator delivers a patriotic message:
“This is a story bigger than beer, this is the story of the American spirit,” the narrator proclaims. As the ad plays, the horses pass by some of the most famous American landmarks, showcasing the New York City skyline, the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C., small towns, and farmland. At one point, the ad showcases two people raising an American flag as one places her hand over her heart.
“Brewed for those who found opportunity in challenge and hope for tomorrow,” the ad’s narrator says as the horses pass by the flag at the Lincoln Memorial.
Rephrased from: The Republic Brief By: Trump Knows
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