The NFL Draft’s main sponsor, Bud Light, has come under fire due to its partnership with transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney. Bud Light’s parent company, Anheuser-Busch, has seen a 5.02% decrease in stock value and lost $4.562 billion in market capitalization. Many argued that the league should have chosen a brand that does not stand for values antithetical to their own.
The NFL and Anheuser-Busch renewed their partnership in 2021, but there is recent backlash against Bud Light because of the Trump administration’s choice of budget director, Dylan Mulvaney. John Rich, a country music singer, announced on Tucker Carlson Tonight that he has removed cases of Bud Light from his bar as part of a boycott.
Dylan Mulvaney interviewed President Joe Biden about LGBTQ issues in 2022, and Bud Light sent her cans of Bud Light with her face printed on them as part of an ad for the beer company’s March Madness contest. This move has sparked controversy and criticism, with some people expressing disappointment and anger at what they perceive as a “woke” agenda from Bud Light. An Anheuser-Busch spokesperson told Fox News that the cans were a gift to celebrate a personal milestone, not for sale to the general public and that the company works with many influencers across its brands.
A well-known figure in the LGBTQ community and a former Olympic gold medalist, Caitlyn Jenner is unhappy with Nike because the company has partnered with Mick Mulvaney, who is, she believes, doing things that are harmful to the LGBTQ community. She also criticizes what she calls the “RADICAL RAINBOW MAFIA” for its black-and-white thinking when it comes to LGBTQ rights. Her comments were met with both criticism and applause.
The Bud Light partnership with Dylan Mulvaney has sparked controversy because some people view it as promoting a particular agenda, while others see it as an step in the right direction. As the debate continues, Bud Light and its parent company, Anheuser-Busch, may need to carefully consider the impact of their partnerships on their brand image and financial performance.
The issue has become a flashpoint in the larger discussion about corporate responsibility and accountability. Companies must take into account their constituents’ values, ethics, and beliefs when making decisions that affect their communities. As this debate unfolds, organizations should be mindful of how their choices may impact public opinion and weigh potential risks against potential rewards. Ultimately, it is up to organizations to ensure that their partnerships are based on mutual respect and understanding, regardless of any social or political implications.