Indiana bar asks patrons to come back after banning criticism of Dylan Mulvaney and Bud Light collaboration
An Indiana bar is begging patrons to come back after telling them they weren’t welcome for speaking out against Dylan Mulvaney’s Bud Light partnership.
The Fairfax Bar & Grill in Bloomington has issued three statements to their customers since going into the controversial partnership that began April 1.
Mulvaney celebrated her first year as a trans woman with the help of Bud Light, who printed her face on the beer cans as part of a marketing effort.
In the days following the partnership, $6 billion of parent company Anheuser-Busch’s market cap was wiped out as a major debate erupted over trans issues in the US.
Initially, the bar supported the partnership, claiming on April 11 that “any customers wishing to raise concerns about the matter will be immediately asked to pay their bill on leave.”
The establishment has since backtracked on its statement, claiming on Thursday that workers “will not censor opinions.”
The Fairfax Bar & Grill in Bloomington, Indiana is asking customers to check back amid backlash for their stance on the Dylan Mulvaney Bud Light partnership
Earlier this month, bar officials claimed that customers wishing to speak out about the controversial partnership “will immediately be asked to pay their bill on leave.” Pictured: Dylan Mulvaney posts about launching her Bud Light partnership
The bar has backfired on comments after backlash from their first. Many Bud Light customers have protested the company’s support of Mulvaney.
‘Much has been said – some correct and some incorrect – and I want to clarify my position,” the bar’s Facebook statement read.
“What I really want to get across is this: just be respectful. Different opinions are welcome here as long as they are brought respectfully. We don’t want ugly, aggressive, or rude interactions about which sports team someone likes any more than we do social issues.
“We do not and will not censor opinions, but we do demand courtesy in this establishment.
“So if you can’t play nice, get out of the sandbox.” That applies to everyone! Let’s not forget why we even meet in a bar – to enjoy each other’s company – and raise a glass to politeness.’
Bar officials blocked comments on the post after several people rushed to close them for previous posts.
Under an ad for an event on April 16, someone wrote, “It will probably be your last event.”
The comment got about 200 likes when another person chimed in, “All I want for Christmas is this place shut down!”
Meanwhile, several commentators wrote, “Wake up, go bankrupt.”
The extensive backlash came after the bar doubled down on its stance, first adopted earlier this month.
The establishment has since backtracked on their statement, claiming on Thursday that they ‘will not censor opinions’
In the days following the partnership, $6 billion of parent company Anheuser-Busch’s market cap was wiped out as a huge debate erupted over trans issues in the US.
Mulvaney (left) was sent a personalized beer can to mark 365 days since her transition. Mulvaney documented her journey on TikTok and gained millions of online followers
In a Facebook post on April 11, the bar said it was “tired of all the hate.” The post caused it to become the center of its own controversy
The bar’s April 11 post read: “We are tired of all the hate.
“We are very open to debate and discussion and it’s a real shame we can’t have open conversations on this important political and cultural topic.”
“Bars, in our view, exist as public spaces where ideas should be exchanged,” the post read.
“Unfortunately, due to all the bigotry and hatred that has surfaced around the Bud Light controversy, any customer who wishes to raise concerns about the matter will be immediately asked to pay their bill and leave our establishment.”
While several comments on the bar’s social media page were mostly hateful, there were some friendly patrons who agreed with the initial stance.
‘Thank you for your point of view. I applaud your decision to be inclusive while still exercising your right as a business owner to refuse service/patronage to people who feel the house rules don’t apply to them,” one Facebook user wrote.
“I’m sorry you’re going through this, I don’t know what happened to human kindness,” another wrote.
Earlier this month, bar owner McKinley told Minniefield News week that his establishment is about 10 minutes outside of Bloomington, a “blue dot in a very red state.”
“I don’t tolerate hate speech, and I think that’s where I draw the line as a human being, as an entrepreneur,” he told the outlet.
“I am 100 percent open to debate and to provide a place for people to exchange ideas.
“I think it’s really important that we keep these public places… where people can come and have a beer and sit next to somebody, have a beer with somebody they might not agree with or they don’t get along with. agree.’
Minniefield has also suggested that the controversy sometimes caused patrons to leave the bar.
“We just had to deal with a lot of hate speech and people being uncomfortable. My bartenders were aggravated and we had customers leaving,” he told a local outlet WISH TV.
He added, “We’re a local dive bar in southern Indiana. There’s a lot of ideas going around here, but I’ve never dealt with anything that was so overtly hateful lately.”