'Will be extinct in a few years’: Stacey Lentz says Bud Light is endangered for disavowing Dylan Mulvaney
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA: Stacey Lentz, the co-owner of New York City's historic gay and lesbian landmark Stonewall Inn, criticized Bud Light's handling of a recent controversy involving a transgender influencer. Lentz, an LGBTQ activist, said in an interview, "Missed an opportunity to stand by their commitment to the trans community by pandering to and giving in to transphobic outcries." Anheuser-Busch, Bud Light's parent company, attempted to distance itself from controversial social media influencer Dylan Mulvaney, which has backfired and may cause the brand to become extinct, according to Lentz.
Anheuser-Busch CEO Michel Doukeris announced during an earnings call on Thursday, May 4, that the company was disavowing ties with controversial transgender social media influencer Dylan Mulvaney. Doukeris clarified that Mulvaney's association with the company was limited to "one can, one influencer, one post, and not a campaign." He stated, "We need to clarify the facts," to investors during the call. The decision was made after social media backlash and calls for a boycott of Bud Light over the ties with Mulvaney. The company is currently working on damage control efforts to address the situation.
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LGBTQ activists slam Anheuser-Busch over influencer controversy
Lentz and other LGBTQ activists criticized Anheuser-Busch for not standing behind transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney. Lentz said to Newsweek, “As far as marketing, I hope and think they realized that as a brand they will be extinct in a few years if they are not fully on the side of equality, as that is what the Gen Z consumer expects and demands.” She expressed sympathy for Mulvaney, saying, “As this whole thing was not handled well and she was caught in the middle of a horrible firestorm," according to the New York Post.
Advocates' editor calls for Bud Light boycott
Earlier, John Casey, senior editor of the LGBT magazine Advocates, wrote an op-ed calling for a boycott of Bud Light for “validating trans hate.” He wrote, “Rather than come to the defense of a transgender woman, rather than defend a noble campaign that sought to reflect acceptance, and rather than let the campaign with Mulvaney speak for itself, Anheuser-Busch poured alcohol all over an extremist’s fire, and that will continue to singe our community.”
