Former employees of Anheuser-Busch expressed frustration with the company’s leadership, describing it as “incompetent” and suggesting it mishandled the backlash following its partnership with transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney. The controversy erupted when the company sent customized beer cans to Mulvaney to celebrate her “365 days of girlhood,” resulting in a significant drop in Bud Light sales.
Former employees, speaking anonymously, criticized the company’s response to the backlash, which included panic and rash decisions, as well as a lack of communication from leadership. They questioned whether the company had done enough to support Mulvaney during the controversy.
The former employees also pointed to a lack of diversity at the top levels of the company as contributing to the botched response. They believed that a more diverse leadership team might have handled the situation more empathetically.
Anheuser-Busch’s handling of the controversy was seen as a departure from its previous marketing strategies, which were described as playing it safe. Some employees felt that the company operated from a position of fear.
Overall, the former employees expressed concern about the damage to the company’s reputation and the potential loss of long-time consumers. Bud Light’s sales volume has dropped significantly, and some experts believe the damage may be “quasi-permanent.”
Anheuser-Busch did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the matter.