Budweiser’s New Ad Featuring Clydesdale Horses
Budweiser, one of the most iconic beer brands in the United States, has released a new advertisement featuring its famous Clydesdale horses. The ad, which was released on social media, showcases the horse passing by some of the most iconic American landmarks and scenes, including New York City, the Lincoln Memorial, small towns, and farmland. The ad concludes with a patriotic message aimed at bringing people together.
Bud Light’s Partnership with Transgender Influencer Dylan Mulvaney
Budweiser’s latest advertisement has been launched amidst a storm of controversy over a partnership between its subsidiary brand, Bud Light, and transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney. The partnership has led to significant financial losses for the company, as calls to boycott the beer spread across the country. In an attempt to move away from the controversy, the new ad is designed with patriotic messaging and imagery.
The partnership between Bud Light and Dylan Mulvaney was met with backlash, with many calling for a boycott of the beer. Alissa Heinerscheid, Vice President of Marketing for Bud Light, spoke on a podcast about the brand’s efforts to appeal to younger drinkers while revitalizing its image. While inclusivity is essential for brand evolution, the recent campaigns and partnerships have raised concerns about the brand’s direction. The attempts to appeal to a younger, politically active demographic may have overlooked its core audience of adult drinkers. Heinerscheid acknowledged that Bud Light’s past branding relied on “outdated humor,” and the brand needs to direct its advertising toward adult consumers and avoid promoting alcohol to younger demographics, which could be seen as an equally off-putting decision.
Mixed Reactions on Social Media
While the ad has been praised for its patriotic message, it has also faced criticism on social media for being a “we’re sorry” ad aimed at rehabilitating the company’s image. Critics have pointed out that the ad does not feature any LGBT people, and some have called for an apology from the company instead, as members of the LGBT community believe this move from Anheuser-Busch shows them attempting to distance themselves from their former hyper-aggressive push for transgender ideology.
However, Anheuser-Busch CEO Brendan Whitworth has stated that the company never intended to divide people and is in the business of bringing people together over a beer.
— Anheuser-Busch (@AnheuserBusch) April 14, 2023
Budweiser Back Peddles
Last week, Anheuser-Busch faced significant criticism for its partnership with a transgender influencer, resulting in a loss of over $6 billion in market capitalization. Meanwhile, the company’s new ad featuring Clydesdale horses and American landmarks has sparked a heated debate on social media, with some seeing it as an attempt to distance themselves from the controversy and regain support, while others argue it may be too little too late.
Good commercial. However, I don't even know what you stand for anymore, you cant play all sides. You should have just stayed they way you were. your choice as a business and my choice as a consumer to not by you beer. Good luck in you future. But I'm done with Budweiser.
— MrHydrate (@Mr_Hydrate) April 14, 2023
I just saw a Budweiser commercial. All of a sudden they are the beer of the working man again. Hmmmm.
— Agent 86 (@abearze34) April 12, 2023
wpDiscuz