Angering Both LGBTQ+ Community and Traditional Beer Drinkers
A month ago, Anheuser-Busch has jumped on the bandwagon of supporting social justice causes in order to appeal to younger and more progressive consumers. Anheuser-Busch was no exception, launching a campaign in support of the transgender community. This was until they saw backlash from traditional customers. The company’s recent decision to distance itself from the campaign and its transgender influencer, Dylan Mulvaney, has angered many within the LGBTQ+ community.
Anheuser-Busch’s about-face has been seen as a desperate attempt to win back market share that they lost over the last month due to a new political campaign. The company’s sales had been slipping substantially, and they may have felt that their support of the transgender community was not resonating with their traditional customer base. However, the decision to abandon the campaign has left many feeling that Anheuser-Busch lacks integrity and is willing to abandon its values for the sake of profits. This is a rat maneuver and if they were not full of shit, they would die on the hill to support the LGBTQ+ community.
The LGBTQ+ community has been particularly vocal in their disappointment with Anheuser-Busch’s decision. Many feel that the company was using the campaign as a marketing ploy, rather than genuinely supporting the cause. This has led to many gay bars refusing to stock Anheuser-Busch products, further hurting the company’s bottom line. Specifically many gay bars in Chicago and more to come.
The broader issue at play here is the role of corporations in social justice movements. While many companies claim to support these causes, there is a growing skepticism among consumers about the authenticity of these statements. Anheuser-Busch’s decision to abandon their campaign is just the latest example of a company that seems more interested in profits than in making a meaningful difference in the world. If you are going to support a cause, you need to plan to go to the moon and back for it. Don’t just put on a space suite and say you want to go to the moon. Actually follow though!
However, it’s not just the LGBTQ+ community that is upset with Anheuser-Busch. Many traditional beer drinkers feel that the company has abandoned its roots and is playing politics for the sake of profits. Many men and woman see the 356 day as a woman Dylan Mulvaney campaign as ridiculous. Celebrating a gender confused man who decided to officially be a woman for 365 days is disrespectful to actual women. This bazar sex change behavior in general is confusing to the general American public. This leaves Anheuser-Busch in a difficult position, alienating both its traditional customer base and the younger, more progressive consumers that it was hoping to attract.
Ultimately, whether you are annoyed by the new sex change culture or want Bud Light to support the culture. The lesson to be learned here is that companies need to be authentic in their support of social justice causes. While it’s understandable that companies want to appeal to younger and more progressive consumers, they need to do so in a way that is genuine and consistent with their values. Anheuser-Busch’s backpedaling on its transgender campaign has shown that consumers are becoming increasingly skeptical of companies that are seen as playing politics or trying to cash in on social justice movements.
In the end, it’s up to consumers to hold companies accountable for their actions. If consumers demand authenticity and consistency from the companies they support, then perhaps we can start to see a shift in the way that corporations approach social justice issues. Until then, companies like Anheuser-Busch will continue to face backlash for their perceived lack of integrity and commitment to causes.
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