THE EPOCH TIMES, CORNVILLE, Ariz.—Whatever alcoholic beverage Scott Bradshaw was nursing in a tall glass while seated at the Old Corral Bar in Cornville, Arizona, it wasn’t Bud Light.
“Bud Light” is not on Bradshaw’s list of favorite lower-calorie brews these days—not after Anheuser-Busch InBev Brewery mixed business and “woke” politics in promoting a transgender brand ambassador.
The company’s decision to partner with transgender [sic] social media influencer Dylan Mulvaney, a biological male, alienated loyal Bud Light drinkers and saw the loss of up to $6.5 billion in stock value.
“I think it was a ridiculous thing any marketing person or company could have ever done,” Bradshaw, who lives in Sedona, Arizona, told The Epoch Times.
As soon as Mulvaney showcased in a video his face on Bud Light beer commemorative cans, the backlash was almost immediate.
“I feel sorry for the salespeople who suddenly aren’t getting any work. They’re getting undermined,” Bradshaw said.
Sitting on his right was Bradshaw’s grandfather, Dale Spude of Cornville, who feels Anheuser-Busch is paying the price in lost business.
“You know what my wife says? She says, ‘Don’t mess with the [promotional Budweiser] Clydesdales. Leave them alone,’” Spude said.
King of Beers
According to restaurant and beverage analyst WISK, Bud Light was the top-selling beer of 2020, accounting for nearly 18 percent of total sales.
In response to the brewing beer controversy, Anheuser-Busch CEO Brendan Whitworth released a statement on April 14, saying the company “never intended to be part of a discussion that divides people.”
“As the CEO of a company founded in America’s heartland more than 165 years ago, I am responsible for ensuring every consumer feels proud of the beer we brew,” Whitworth wrote.
“We’re honored to be part of the fabric of this country …”
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