It seems Anheuser-Busch, the parent company of Bud Light, has realized its mistake. After its marketing campaign used Dylan Mulvaney, the transgendered TikTok star, to advertise its beer, the company is reported to have lost more than $5 billion in market capitalization.
Now, CEO Brendan Whitworth has released a vague statement titled “Our Responsibility to America.”
It reads: “We never intended to be part of a discussion that divides people. We are in the business of bringing people together over a beer.”
Whitworth makes no mention of Mulvaney, nor the fallout, but references “the importance of accountability and the values upon which America was founded,” his personal commitment to “listening to and learning from our customers,” and working “tirelessly to bring great beers to consumers across our nation.”
As far as apologies go, this falls flat. Still, I think the company has learned its lesson.