Boycotts over a transgender influencer deal caused Budweiser and Bud Light’s popularity to decline, now they’re trying to recover with a new can design and no one is buying it.
Grappling With a Boycott
Similar to Bud Light, Budweiser beer has been grappling with a significant boycott due to its ill-fated collaboration with transgender TikTok influencer Dylan Mulvaney.
The Company Scrambles to Recover
The company’s attempts to recover from the backlash surrounding its new camo can, intended to honor veterans, have been met with continued criticism.
Brand Sunk After Transgender Partnership
The fallout from Bud Light’s association with transgender personality Mulvaney earlier this year has resulted in an ongoing crisis that shows no signs of abating.
The Backlash Sunk the Company
The partnership triggered a passionate backlash from customers, which severely impacted Bud Light and its parent company Anheuser-Busch.
Two Executives Were Fired
As a consequence, two executives were placed on leave, and it later emerged that they were dismissed from their positions.
Other Beers Suffered From the Boycott
Due to its affiliation with Anheuser-Busch InBev, Budweiser also suffered the consequences of the Bud Light boycott.
Their Tent Was Empty at a Motorcycle Rally
Recently, at the renowned Sturgis motorcycle rally weekend, Budweiser faced disappointment as its beer tent struggled to attract customers.
Observers on social media were astonished by the near-constant emptiness of the tent.
The Mighty Have Officially Fallen
Before the Mulvaney debacle, Budweiser products had held a dominant position in the beer market, with Bud Light leading the pack.
The boycott has inflicted a substantial blow to their popularity.
They’re Attempts to Win Customers Back
In a bid to regain customer favor, Budweiser took steps this week to demonstrate its support for veterans.
Announcement From BudLight
“New can, same support for our nation’s veterans. Our camo cans are now available nationwide,” the company announced on Monday.
They’ve Been Raising Funds for a Decade
Notably, Budweiser has been involved with raising funds for Folds of Honor for over a decade, making the camo can marketing initiative a pre-existing concept.
What Is Folds of Honor?
Folds of Honor is an organization that aids the educational pursuits of the children and spouses of fallen military personnel and disabled veterans through scholarship awards.
They Faced Additional Backlash
Despite the years of commitment to veterans, the boycott prompted beer enthusiasts to criticize Budweiser on social media, accusing the company of attempting to regain popularity by associating with the military.
‘You Can’t Hide Behind Them’
“Sorry Bud. You can’t ride the coattails of our veterans to a successful whitewashing of your marketing fiasco and subsequent failure to own up to it.
Our brave service members didn’t hide behind others. You can’t hide behind them,” one user wrote.
Veterans Distance Themselves
“As a veteran, attempting to buy your way out of the bad decisions you have made… makes me distance myself even further from your brand,” another echoed.
Their Fall Might Be Irreparable
Regardless of the sincerity behind their actions, both Budweiser and Bud Light have suffered such a significant decline in public trust that any move they make is met with suspicion from millions of beer consumers.
It appears increasingly likely that their fall from grace is irreparable.
They Had to Sell 8 Beer Brands
The situation became so dire that Anheuser-Busch InBev had to sell off eight beer brands in an attempt to mitigate its financial losses.
The Efficacy of Boycotts
The Mulvaney controversy and its subsequent boycott, however, served a crucial purpose: they demonstrated the efficacy of boycotts for not only left-leaning individuals but also for traditional Americans.
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The post Budweiser’s Failed Redemption: New Can Design Fails to Mend Reputation Post-boycott Backlash first appeared on Mama Say What?!
Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock / Bystrov. The people shown in the images are for illustrative purposes only, not the actual people featured in the story.
