Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

John Oliver condemns Bud Light’s response following Dylan Mulvaney backlash

Several conservatives have boycotted Budweiser for partnering with the trans TikTok star

Inga Parkel
Monday 24 April 2023 12:28 EDT
John Oliver addresses Budweiser's response to Dylan Mulvaney backlash

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

John Oliver has called Budweiser’s response to the transphobic backlash against its partnership with transgender TikTok star Dylan Mulvaney a “huge misfire”.

Last month, the brewing company partnered with Mulvaney to promote its Bud Light March Madness contest, a move which prompted a wave of right-wing backlash on social media and a boycott of the brand.

Anheuser-Busch’s CEO since addressed the outrage in a statement, saying: “We never intended to be part of a discussion that divides people. We are in the business of bringing people together over a beer.”

Soon after, Budweiser released a video advertisement in connection with the statement, which the Last Week Tonight host branded “equally empty” on the show’s latest episode (Sunday 23 April).

“There is both nothing and a lot going on there,” Oliver laughed. “They are clearly so afraid of offending anyone.”

In the advertisement, the brand’s signature Clydesdale horse is shown running past American national monuments, including Missouri’s Gateway Arch, The Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC and New York City’s famous skyline.

Of the video, he said: “Shots of a horse running through the plains and ‘remember 9/11’, feels less like an ad and more like the results of feeding an AI program the prompt, ‘America, freedom, I’m sorry.’

“This feels like a huge misfire for Anheuser-Busch because when bigots are loudly announcing they don’t like your beer because they are bigots, that is an opportunity to say, ‘Then our beer is not for you.’”

John Oliver on ‘Last Week Tonight’
John Oliver on ‘Last Week Tonight’ (Last Week Tonight / YouTube)

Among the high-profile celebrities who’ve boycotted the brand are country singers Kid Rock and Travis Tritt.

Rock posted a video showing him donning a Make America Great Again hat while shooting boxes of Bud Light with an automatic rifle.

“F*** Bud Light and f*** Anheuser-Busch,” Rock says, looking into the camera.

Following his viral display of transphobic outrage, an old 2003 photo of him “chilling” with legendary drag queen Wanda resurfaced.

“There is always receipts! Here we have Kid Rock enjoying a bud light next to a drag Queen. It didn’t bother him back them. Yeah that’s right… he’s now trying to stay relevant so he spews fake outrage. But if it didn’t bother him then, it doesn’t really bother him now,” tweeted former West Virginia senator Richard N Ojeda.

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in