Dylan Mulvaney, a transgender activist and social media celebrity, has come under fire for a series of endorsement agreements in which he appears in girly clothing.
Mulvaney, a male who sees himself as a woman, has amassed a massive following on the video-sharing platform TikTok over the past few months. This past weekend, he caused a stir when he uploaded a video promoting a March Madness sweepstakes sponsored by Bud Light. On Tuesday, Bud Light announced that it has partnered with Mulvaney in an attempt to “authentically connect” with consumers.
Mulvaney displayed a customized beer can made to celebrate the first year of the “Days of Girlhood” series.
The brand agreement is one of several that have raised questions over the past few months as Mulvaney has become a controversial common name in the United States, despite the apparent lack of connection between college basketball fans and transgenderism.
In particular, Mulvaney’s marketing deals with companies like makeup brand Ulta Beauty and fashion house Kate Spade have been criticized for provoking anger among the companies’ female customer bases and accusations that he is insulting women.
Ulta invited Mulvaney and a “gender-fluid” hairstylist to appear on the company show at the end of last year, prompting such criticism that the company disabled user comments on YouTube and Instagram. Ulta stated, “We believe beauty is for everyone.” And while we expect some of the talks we hold to present opposing points of view, we also know that healthy debate is essential to advancing the aesthetic field.
In a similar vein, Kate Spade published a film last month showing Mulvaney purchasing gowns and the “perfect spring outfit” from one of their New York City stores. He pointed out a hot-pink dress on a model, changed into it, and stepped out of the dressing room while showing off the item in a white handbag for the camera.
After Bud Light’s collaboration with Mulvaney came under fire, he posted an Instagram photo of himself wearing Nike Women’s Zenvy pants and an Alate bra. He raved about how plush and cozy they were, saying they were great for lounging around the house or hitting the gym.
His TikTok videos also feature him using Crest toothpaste and talking about his anticipated social life, as well as applying products from skin care brand CeraVe and celebrating a “sleepover” with pizza delivered by shopping delivery service Instacart.
Mulvaney’s backing extends beyond the business world to include high-ranking government leaders. Mulvaney and Vice President Joe Biden talked about “gender-affirming healthcare” last year at the White House.
Earlier this week, Daily Wire host Matt Walsh commented on the partnership between Mulvaney and Bud Light, writing that transgenderism is a “progressive” movement that “eats away at its host like bone cancer until there’s nothing left to consume” and that “constantly on the verge of collapse” because of its assumptions.
It’s balanced perilously on this brink and needs to be fiercely propped up all day, every day, all the time, as Walsh put it. “On a personal level, the transgender person has a hard time believing his own self-identity assertions. The way he sees himself is fleeting and shallow. He tells himself this untruth over and over, and then he insists that everyone else do the same. No other group requires such assistance because no other group is perpetually attempting to persuade itself of its existence.