Prominent transgender TikTok star Dylan Mulvaney has publicly voiced her disappointment with Bud Light, alleging that the beer brand did not stand by her following the intense transphobic backlash she received after collaborating with them.
Mulvaney faced a wave of abuse and harassment after partnering with Bud Light for a sponsored Instagram post in April, with widespread boycotting of the beer, supermarket shelves being vandalised, and musician Kid Rock shooting at several cans in disapproval.
In a recent Instagram video, Mulvaney opened up about the campaign for the first time, revealing the bullying and transphobia she endured, leaving her feeling frightened to leave her home.
The controversy ignited when Bud Light sent Mulvaney a personalised can featuring her face, celebrating a year of her public transition, which she shared in an Instagram video. However, instead of support, Mulvaney claims she faced an onslaught of bullying and transphobia, expressing her disappointment that Bud Light failed to back her publicly.
Mulvaney emphasised that for a company to hire a transgender person and then not publicly support them is even worse than not hiring them at all, asserting that ignoring the situation is not an option.
She further emphasised that genuine support for the LGBTQ+ community extends beyond mere donations during Pride month.
Bud Light has faced significant criticism for its handling of the situation. Brendan Whitworth, the CEO of Anheuser-Busch, Bud Light’s parent company, stated in April that he did not intend to be part of a divisive discussion. In response, five LGBTQ+ bars in Chicago stopped serving Bud Light.
In May, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) cautioned Anheuser-Busch that its response to the controversy could impact its Corporate Equality Index score, reportedly writing a letter to the company, expressing disappointment with their response and stating that they had a crucial opportunity to demonstrate their commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, which they fell short of.
Anheuser-Busch responded by reiterating its commitment to existing programs and partnerships with various communities, including the LGBTQ+ community. They added that employee and partner privacy and safety are their top priorities, and moving forward, they intend to focus on their core strength of brewing great beer for everyone and being part of significant moments for their consumers.
