Republican lawmakers criticize Anheuser-Busch for venturing into ‘politics’ with Dylan Mulvaney partnership

Republican lawmakers have criticized brewer Anheuser-Busch for venturing into politics over their association with transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney.

Republican Ralph Norman hit back at the company for their decision to let Mulvaney, 26, promote their product.

Norman told Fox News: ‘If there’s ever any reason for a company to stay away from issues like this – they were making beer last time I checked.

They don’t make policy. If they want to make policy, go into politics. If they believe in it so strongly. I’m surprised it’s only 12 percent.

Mulvany posted the content on the occasion of the NCAA March Madness tournament, before joking that she didn’t know what sport she was promoting

Norman continued, “There are many past Bud Light users who will never drink another Bud Light beer in their lives, including me.”

Republican Mark Alford also told the news site, “Anytime companies get involved in issues of culture and wakeism, it’s a big risk.”

The brewer came under fire after their stunt with transgender influencer Mulvaney in April caused a stir among conservatives.

Mulvaney shared photos of herself holding a personalized can to celebrate her transition a year ago, posing with beer cans in a bathtub.

The brand was accused of interfering in one of the most hot button culture war issues out there.

Anheuser-Busch CEO Michael Doukaris tried to play down the campaign with Mulvaney.

He told an earnings call, “We need to clarify the facts that this was one can, one influencer, one post and not a campaign.”

Investors were also told by Doukeris that Bud Light will triple its marketing spend this summer in an effort to lure customers back to the compromised brand.

Earlier this month, a letter was sent to retailers, bars and restaurants by Gray Eagle, which distributes Anheuser-Busch products in St. Louis, Missouri.

It said: “Anheuser-Busch did not intend to create controversy or make a political statement.

“In reality, the Bud Light post was made by a social media influencer who started all the conversation, provided by an outside agency without Anheuser-Busch management’s knowledge or approval.

“Since then, the lack of oversight and control over marketing decisions has been addressed and a new VP of Bud Light marketing has been announced.”

Mulvaney announced the partnership in a series of videos posted to social media in early April

Mulvaney 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

Last month, Beer Business Daily reported that out-of-pocket beer sales volume — that is, the amount of beer sold outside restaurants and bars — was down 26.1 percent from a year earlier in the week ending April 22. .

Coors Light and Miller Lite saw consumers turn to their brands as both had sales increases.

“Bud Light Blue’s shocking market share decline continued rapidly into the third week of April – and somehow got worse.

“We have never seen such a dramatic shift in national share in such a short time,” Beer Business Daily wrote on its website.

Coors Light volume was up 13.3 percent in the same period and Miller Lite was up 13.6 percent.

Some of Bud Light’s biggest rivals saw their sales increase after the backlash

In the week following the campaign’s launch, on April 1, Bud Light sales were down 6 percent, while Coors Light was up 3.5 percent and Miller Lite was up 3.1 percent.

As backlash against Anheuser-Busch mounted, their sales fell 17 percent in the week of April 18.

In comparison, Coors Light saw sales increase by 10.6 percent, while Miller Lite made even more profit with a sales increase of 11.5 percent.

Earlier this month, Bud Light sales were slightly up, with the company only seeing a 6.7 percent drop in sales, while both of their rivals saw a massive 18 percent increase.

Several famous faces criticized the brand for their decision after pro-Trump Kid Rock shot the cans, saying, “F*** Bud Light, and f*** Anheuser-Busch.” Have a great day.’

John Rich also publicly denounced the brand, saying he would remove it from his Nashville bar.

Mulvaney has hit back at her critics about the Bud Light deal, telling Rosie O’Donnell on her podcast, “The reason I think I’m so… I’m an easy target is because I’m so new to this.

Despite their attempts to deny the connection, the video Mulvaney posted in early April 2023 of her drinking Bud Light used the hashtag #budlightpartner

Countryman John Rich became the latest celebrity to take out the brand, asking what beer he should use to replace Bud Light at his Nashville bar, Redneck Riviera

“I think it’s much harder to go after a trans woman who’s been doing this for like 20 years. I think maybe they think there’s a chance with me… But what’s their goal?

“These people don’t understand me, and everything I do or say is somehow taken out of context and used against me, and it’s so sad because everything I’m trying to get out is positive.

“It tries to connect with others who may not understand me. It’s to make people laugh or to make a child feel seen.”

In the turmoil that followed the announcement of the partnership, Anheuser-Busch issued a statement saying it supported the brand’s decision to partner with Mulvaney.