Breaking news: Bud Light has sunk to new lows in a desperate attempt to win back customers. Their latest country-themed commercial is a shameless ploy to pander to fans they’ve alienated, but it seems to have backfired spectacularly. With comments disabled on YouTube, furious viewers have taken to Twitter to voice their displeasure. Bud Light’s NFL Draft ad is now making headlines for all the wrong reasons, and the company’s reputation is taking a serious hit.
Bud Light’s recent attempt to win back lost customers by releasing a country-themed commercial has sparked outrage and condemnation. The company, facing criticism for their partnership with controversial influencer Dylan Mulvaney, tried to appeal to their traditional market with a country music festival ad. However, they took the drastic step of disabling comments on YouTube, preventing viewers from providing feedback.
The commercial, which aired during the Thursday NFL Draft and was later posted to YouTube, featured four friends enjoying Bud Light at a country music festival while the song “Chicken Fried” by the Zac Brown Band played. It was one of several ads released by Bud Light following their controversial partnership with Dylan Mulvaney, which caused sales to plummet.
In the three days since its release, the commercial has garnered over 8 million views but received fewer than 200 likes. By comparison, “Chicken Fried” has accumulated 135 million views and 571,000 likes since it was uploaded 14 years ago. Due to YouTube’s removal of the dislike feature in 2021, it is unclear how many users ‘disliked’ the new commercial. Critics argue that this change caters to large corporations, shielding them from ‘dislike attacks.’
With comments disabled on YouTube, viewers have turned to Twitter to express their dissatisfaction with Bud Light’s country ad. Users have accused the company of cynically trying to lure back their lost demographic and labeled them as ‘cowards.’ One user wrote, “Re Bud Light’s use of Zach Brown’s ‘Chicken Fried’ during the NFL draft to stop the sales dive. Nice try, but nah. Made it worse. You revealed how intentional your trans promotion was. You knew. You chose. You didn’t care. It only takes once to show us who you really are.”
An opinion piece published by Bloomberg prior to the commercial’s release echoed this sentiment, accusing Anheuser-Busch of setting a “new low in corporate courage.” Ben Schott, the publication’s advertising and brands columnist, wrote, “Kicking a political hornet’s nest for clicks and giggles before running away is no way to elevate a brand or promote a cause.”
Amid the backlash, Anheuser-Busch has placed two executives on leave: Daniel Blake, vice president for mainstream brands, and Alissa Heinerscheid, Bud Light’s VP of marketing. Although the company claims these decisions were voluntary, reports suggest otherwise. Anheuser-Busch CEO Brendan Whitworth stated on April 14, “We never intended to be part of a discussion that divides people. We are in the business of bringing people together over a beer.”
The controversy has attracted the attention of conservative politicians and celebrities alike, with country star Brantley Gilbert smashing a can of Bud Light on stage during a performance in Alabama. Meanwhile, musician Kid Rock posted a video of himself shooting a case of Bud Light beers while wearing a MAGA hat, sending a “clear and concise” message against the company.
In a desperate bid to win back customers, Bud Light’s country-themed commercial has only served to exacerbate the controversy surrounding the company. Their attempts to silence critics by disabling comments on YouTube have proven fruitless, with public backlash spreading across social media platforms. As the debate continues to rage, the future of the Bud Light brand remains uncertain. Stay tuned to Next News for more updates on this developing story.
Let’s continue this conversation, in the comments below.
