Bud Light has come under fire on Twitter, after the beleaguered beer brand’s Twitter account shared a post about the upcoming National Football League (NFL) season.
The Bud Light post in question was referencing the upcoming start date for the upcoming NFL season, which will begin in September. However, it was met with relentless ridicule on the platform from a faction of detractors, who continue to publicly express their dislike of the brand.
Bud Light has been under fire since early April, when transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney revealed a small partnership with the Anheuser-Busch brand. In a video posted to Instagram on April 1, Mulvaney said Bud Light had sent her a can with her face on it to commemorate 365 days of her living off her as a woman.
Mulvaney’s association with Bud Light drew condemnations and calls for a boycott. Musicians Kid Rock, Travis Tritt and John Rich were also among those who spoke out against the brand after the collaboration. Meanwhile, some members of the LGBTQ+ community criticized the company for not upholding its ties to Mulvaney.
Mark Brown/Getty Images
Since the boycott calls began nearly four months ago, Bud Light has seen a drop in domestic sales. Revenues remain consistently below what they were at the same time in 2022. The company has also lost its crown as America’s most popular beer, with Mexican rival Modelo Especial now in the top spot in the United States.
news week has contacted Anheuser-Busch representatives by email for comment.
With the Anheuser-Busch brands slowly getting back to posting on social media, Bud Light shared a few words about the upcoming NFL season. “Only 8 Sundays until the @NFL, but who’s counting…” the tweet in question read.
The post was met with a wave of backlash, as various Twitter users continued to voice their opposition to Bud Light. “An apology would have gone a long way for Budweiser, but it’s too late now,” wrote one Twitter user.
“Thank you Bud Light Marketing Team,” another commented. “You give meaning to my life by going out on your own and tearing yourself apart.”
“Really? Budweiser and Bud Light are going to spend millions on NFL commercials like it’s business as usual, with ZERO commercials addressing the problem?” another tweeted. “I said before that as the person whose only tool is a hammer who sees every problem as a nail, AB sees marketing as the solution to every problem. But this is ridiculous. Go ahead and spend the money while we laugh, but it’s getting to the point of silliness. #GoWokeGoBroke.”
Joked another: “It’s been almost 4 months since Bud Light destroyed their brand, but who’s counting.”
Amid the wave of criticism, several other Twitter users spoke out in defense of Bud Light.
“Every Sunday this upcoming season my fridge will be FULL of Bud Light for the NFL!” wrote a supporter on Twitter. “And I can guarantee you that the [Super Bowl] party will have enough bud light for EVERYONE”.
“I’ve had many Bud Light’s watching football and I fully intend to have many more!” posted another.
Taking aim at Bud Light’s critics, a third commented: “I love reading all these comments about boycotts and such, and mentioning all the other brands of beer that have decided to drink instead. As if any of them hadn’t promoted [LGBTQ+] Pride too. It’s almost like… love is love.”
“The boycott has gone on too long, time to give it a break,” another Twitter user wrote.
A recently shared Twitter post on the Anheuser-Busch brand Budweiser account regarding Major League Baseball (MLB) received a similar mixed response from users.
In recent weeks, several social media users have also shared photos and videos of unsold Bud Light on store shelves and at venues. This is an attempt to illustrate the alleged success of the beer brand boycott.
Bud Light has implemented a variety of strategies to boost sales in recent weeks, such as offering deep discounts that made beer free or nearly free in some areas.
On June 29, Mulvaney accused Bud Light’s parent company, Anheuser-Busch, of “turning a blind eye” to the transphobic attacks it suffered after its collaboration with the brand.
In a TikTok post titled “Trans People Like Beer Too,” Mulvaney accused Anheuser-Busch of not reaching out to her at the height of the criticism.
“I was waiting for the brand to contact me, but they never did. And for months now, I’ve been afraid to leave my house,” Mulvaney said. “I’ve been publicly ridiculed. I’ve been followed. And I’ve felt a loneliness I wouldn’t wish on anyone. If this is my experience from a very privy perspective, know that it’s much, much worse for other trans people.”
While not naming Anheuser-Busch directly, Mulvaney added: “In my opinion, for a company to hire a trans person and then not publicly endorse them is worse than not hiring a trans person 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, serious consequences for the rest of our community. And we are customers too. I know a lot of trans and queer people who love beer.”