Anheuser-Busch is being accused of pandering to conservatives who have boycotted Bud Light by releasing a new Harley-Davidson-themed commercial for sister brand Budweiser.
The beer company, which has seen sales of Bud Light tank in recent weeks following the backlash over its partnership with transgender social media influencer Dylan Mulvaney, recently released a Budweiser ad touting specially created cans with the Harley Davidson logo.
“The greatest legacies are built with grit and resilience — one detail at a time,” the narrator of the commercial said in between footage of a mechanic tending to a Harley Davidson motorcycle.
The commercial also cuts to shots of a can of Budweiser that bears the motorcycle brand’s logo.
The mechanic depicted in the commercial wipes sweat from his brow as he shines a Harley-Davidson motorcycle.
The narrator then urges consumers to buy “limited edition Harley-Davidson cans” — whose release was timed to mark 120 years since the Milwaukee-based motorcycle company’s founding.
“For those who give everything to their craft, this Bud’s for you,” the narrator said, ending the 23-second commercial.
Ironically, Mulvaney posted an image to her millions of social media followers showing a specially created can of Bud Light with her likeness.
The can, which was gifted to Mulvaney to mark the anniversary of her transition to womanhood, was never sold publicly, but the backlash was severe.
In the weeks following the Mulvaney blowup, Budweiser and Bud Light were accused of pandering to consumers by releasing patriotic-themed ads, including one featuring the iconic Clydesdale horses.
Reaction on social media to the latest Budweiser ad was largely negative.
“They are simply trying too hard to be liked again. And it won’t work,” one Twitter user wrote.
“The whole debacle is ridiculous. Budweiser made an absurd decision and screwed themselves.”
Another Twitter user wrote: “They stepped into this arena on their own, they knew what they were doing, and these pitiful attempts to bring back the consumer base they alienated aren’t going to work.”
“We’re over it.”
Another Twitter user commented that “the pandering is so obvious!”
“Just quietly take your beating and move on,” the Twitter user wrote.
The Post has sought comment from Anheuser-Busch and Harley-Davidson.
Bud Light saw sales were down 25.7% last week, according to data obtained by The Post.
The plunge followed a 24.6% decline from the previous week and the sixth straight week sales have been hit since Mulvaney promoted Bud Light on April 1.
[Written in collaboration with other media outlets with information from the following sources]
