On Thursday, Anheuser-Busch CEO Michel Doukeris finally addressed the Bud Light controversy during an investor call, insisting that the brand’s controversial partnership with trans activist Dylan Mulvaney was “not a formal campaign.”

Since the beer company sent Mulvaney a personalized beer can and the trans influencer posted a series of videos promoting Bud Light, there has been a nationwide boycott against the company which has caused a major drop in sales.

Doukeris assured investors that there has been “misinformation” spreading around social media regarding the company’s relationship with Mulvaney.

“We need to clarify that this was one camp, one influencer, one post, and not a campaign,” said Doukeris.

Doukeris added that it is still too early to tell how the boycott affected Bud Light sales, but maintained that the company will bounce back quickly from any disruption.

Reminding investors that Anheuser-Busch has handled greater global crises including beers being banned in some countries during the COVID-19 pandemic, Doukeris said, “We believe we have the experience, the resources, and the partners to manage this. And our four-year growth outlook is unchanged.”

“We want to reiterate our support for our wholesaler partners and everyone who brings our great beers to the market. I can tell you that we have the agility, resources, and people to support the U.S. team and move forward,” said the CEO.

“We will continue to learn, meet the moment in time, all be stronger and we work tirelessly to do what we do best: Bring people together over a beer and creating a future of more cheers.”

 

In a letter to wholesalers, the brewery addressed the backlash and said, “This was one single can given to one social media influencer. It was not made for production or sale to the general public. This can is not a formal campaign or advertisement.”

Grey Eagle, a Fenton-based company that distributes Anheuser-Busch products to a 14-county region around St. Louis, forwarded this letter to bars and restaurants, including its own cover letter that said, “Anheuser-Busch did not intend to create controversy or make a political statement.”

“In reality, the Bud Light can posted by a social media influencer that sparked all the conversation was provided by an outside agency without Anheuser-Busch management awareness or approval. Since that time, the lack of oversight and control over marketing decisions has been addressed and a new VP of Bud Light marketing has been announced.”

 

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