Anheuser-Busch CEO Insists Company ‘Never Intended’ to Divide Americans with Dylan Mulvaney Campaign

Anheuser-Busch, the parent company of Bud Light, claimed in a statement on Friday that the brand “never intended” to divide Americans over its creative collaboration with transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney but failed to apologize to the core consumers it alienated.

“We never intended to be a part of a discussion that divides people. We are in the business of bringing people together over a beer,” CEO Brendan Whitworth said in a tepid response to the scandal.

Whitworth assured the public that while at the helm, he’s “focused on building and protecting our remarkable history and heritage.”

Upset by the Mulvaney partnership, many customers were further enraged by unearthed comments from Bud Light’s marketing vice president, Alissa Heinerscheid, disparaging the brand’s traditional clientele in favor of younger, woke audiences. She claimed she was charged with reinventing Bud Light away from its “fratty” roots and “out of touch” humor — the sort of behavior it appears Heinerscheid indulged in while attending Harvard.

Whitworth tried to appease those loyal groups in a few sentences, saying, “We have thousands of partners, millions of fans and a proud history supporting our communities, military, first responders, sports fans and hard-working Americans everywhere.”

But those abstaining from the beer brand after the blunder say the damage has been done. It’s taken over a week for AB to formally and publicly comment on the matter. However, last week, it posted a moderating comment under an Instagram post encouraging followers to “be inclusive.” Bud Light has yet to post to its Instagram account since April 1.

“I am responsible for ensuring every consumer feels proud of the beer we brew,” Whitworth said. “My time serving this country taught me the importance of accountability and the values upon which America was founded: freedom, hard work and respect for one another.”

After Mulvaney posted a bizarre bathtub bit, surrounded by cans of the beer, Anheuser-Busch defended it as just another brand deal in a comment to Fox News.

“Anheuser-Busch works with hundreds of influencers across our brands as one of many ways to authentically connect with audiences across various demographics. From time to time we produce unique commemorative cans for fans and for brand influencers, like Dylan Mulvaney. This commemorative can was a gift to celebrate a personal milestone and is not for sale to the general public,” an AB spokesperson said.