Following Dylan Mulvaney’s accusations of neglect from Anheuser-Busch amidst criticism of their controversial partnership, the beer company swiftly responded with an official statement.
On Instagram, Mulvaney, a transgender influencer, recounted the distressing encounters with “bullying and transphobia” that she endured when Bud Light featured her image on a limited edition beer can. Expressing her disappointment, the TikTok star lamented the absence of any communication from the brand.
In Mulvaney’s perspective, it is more egregious for Anheuser-Busch to recruit a transgender individual and not publicly support them, as it grants customers the freedom to exhibit transphobic and cruel behavior without consequence.
When approached for comment, Anheuser-Busch initially remained silent. However, without directly referencing Mulvaney, the corporation issued a statement to numerous media outlets, expressing its unwavering support for the LGBTQ+ community.
“As we’ve stated before, we remain committed to our longstanding programs and partnerships with various communities, including the LGBTQ+ community,” stated a representative of Anheuser-Busch. “We place great importance on the security and confidentiality of our staff and business associates. Our primary focus continues to be crafting exceptional beer for all while capturing our customers’ attention during significant moments.”
Since Mulvaney’s Instagram post on April 1, featuring the customized can, the boycott against Bud Light has shown no signs of waning. Anheuser-Busch had gifted Mulvaney the cans to commemorate her first year as a woman, and she joyfully captioned her Instagram picture with the hashtag “#budlightpartner,” referring to it as the “best gift ever.”
Subsequently, a video emerged showing Mulvaney enjoying the beverage in a bathtub, which garnered widespread mockery on the internet. As a result, sales of Bud Light plummeted dramatically, with no apparent signs of recovery.
According to data provided by NielsenIQ to FOX Business via Bump Williams Consulting, Bud Light sales declined by 24.4% year-over-year for the week ending June 3. Additionally, sales for the four-week period ending on June 3 dropped by 24.6% compared to the same period the previous year.
During both the two-week and four-week periods ending on June 3, Modelo Especial outperformed Bud Light by a significant margin. In contrast, Coors Light experienced a 25.8% increase in sales, while Miller Lite saw a 21.4% gain during the same timeframe.
By mid-June, the stock price and market capitalization of Anheuser-Busch InBev had declined by nearly 17% from their March peaks.
Although Bud Light maintained its position as the top-selling beer in America until June 17, despite recent declines, Modelo surpassed it in U.S. retail store sales during the four weeks preceding June 17, securing an 8.4% sales share compared to Bud Light’s 7.3% within the same period.