The outcry to Anheuser-Busch’s decision to include transgender activist Dylan Mulvaney in a recent marketing campaign looks to be intensifying.
Kid Rock and Travis Tritt are just two of the well-known musicians that have slammed Anheuser-Busch for promoting Mulvaney.
Tritt, in particular, stated that he and Kid Rock are not the only artists who are breaking from the beer makers; they are simply the only ones who have been brave enough to speak out about it:
Other artists who are deleting Anheuser-Busch products from their hospitality rider might not say so in public for fear of being ridiculed and cancelled. I have no such fear. https://t.co/YgjO9P03tR
— Travis Tritt (@Travistritt) April 6, 2023
At the highest level, it’s clear that Budweiser has already upset several major music business figures.
However, it is the retail industry that drives the wholesale sale of Bud Light, not the music industry.
And, for the time being, anecdotal responses to the Mulvaney campaign may offer a bleak image of what’s next for Budweiser in terms of retail.
A viral tweet with over 4.4 million views and 88,000 likes is one illustration of the challenges that Anheuser-Busch may now face in the post-Mulvaney scenario.
We just refused our #Budlight orders for my liquor store. We are pulling it from our shelves. We are not the only ones according to our reps. They said it's bad.
— Tater (@Floridagirl0850) April 5, 2023
Twitter user @Floridagirl0850 announced: “We just refused our #Budlight orders for my liquor store. We are pulling it from our shelves. We are not the only ones according to our reps. They said it’s bad.”
Of course, one anonymous Twitter user remains just that: anonymous.
However, based on the comments to her post, it’s clear that Budweiser’s newfound association with Mulvaney is “polarizing.”
There was the anticipated left-wing hatred aimed at @Floridagirl0850, but there were just as many, if not more, replies that praised her.
Conservative commentator Dave Rubin reached out to the Twitter user in the hopes of making up for any lost sales:
I see you’re in FL. What store? I’ll make it up to you in tequila!
— Dave Rubin (@RubinReport) April 5, 2023
Liz Wheeler, a conservative podcaster, simply replied to the tweet with three clapping hands emojis:
👏 👏👏
— Liz Wheeler (@Liz_Wheeler) April 5, 2023
Anheuser-Busch, for its part, does not appear concerned about potentially stifling sales. Indeed, the multibillion-dollar company doubled down and effectively rejected all criticism leveled against them.
“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. 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,” an Anheuser-Busch representative told Fox News.