A beer maker is defending its decision to make a “commemorative can” to celebrate a “milestone” of a transgender activist.
Beer company Anheuser-Busch recently sent transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney a special pack of Bud Light. The cans featured Mulvaney’s face on them.
And the move prompted a backlash.
However, in a statement to Fox News, Anheuser-Busch said, “Anheuser-Busch works with hundreds of influencers across our brands as one of many ways to authentically connect with audiences across various demographics and passion points.”
“From time to time we produce unique commemorative cans for fans and for brand influencers, like Dylan Mulvaney. This commemorative can was a gift to celebrate a personal milestone and is not for sale to the general public,” it added.
On Saturday, Mulvaney revealed the company sent the commemorative cans to mark the celebration of the influencer’s “365 Days of Girlhood.”
Mulvaney also posted a video that was recorded in the bathtub, which was reportedly part of a campaign for the brand.
Conservatives took to Twitter to criticize the beer brand.
“This isn’t a parody. Dylan Mulvaney is now the face of Bud Light,” wrote conservative commentator Ian Miles Cheong.
This isn’t a parody. Dylan Mulvaney is now the face of Bud Light. pic.twitter.com/cpygA74cG5
— Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) April 2, 2023
OutKick’s David Hookstead tweeted, “Bud Light’s newest spokesperson is transgender Dylan Mulvaney. We’ve now reached the point where we can’t even drink beer in America without politics being shoved down our throats.”
“Factory workers just want a cold one. Not a woke transgender debate,” he added.
Bud Light's newest spokesperson is transgender Dylan Mulvaney.
— David Hookstead (@dhookstead) April 3, 2023
We've now reached the point where we can't even drink beer in America without politics being shoved down our throats.
Factory workers just want a cold one. Not a woke transgender debate. https://t.co/C2gQ3ZKv6X
PragerU’s C.J. Pearson joked, “Dylan Mulvaney told on himself. Real women don’t drink Bud Light! They drink White Claw!”
Meanwhile, The New York Post’s Karol Markowicz wrote, “I keep waiting for the Bud Light-Dylan Mulvaney thing to be a really good April Fools joke.”
I keep waiting for the Bud Light-Dylan Mulvaney thing to be a really good April Fools joke.
— Karol Markowicz (@karol) April 3, 2023
In Mar. 2022, Mulvaney came out as trans and started posting videos on TikTok, which the influencer called a “Days of Girlhood” series.