SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA: In the aftermath of the highly publicized Dylan Mulvaney controversy, a Bud Light seller found themselves burdened with an overwhelming surplus of unsold cases of the popular brew. To tackle this fiasco, the distributor is offering $20 rebates on purchases of a $19.98 case of beer.
A viral photo posted to social media shows stacks of 24-can cases of Bud Light with a promo taped to them touting a full rebate from the unidentified beer vendor. Sales of Bud Light, the nation’s perennial top-selling beer, have tanked following calls for a boycott of the Anheuser-Busch brand in the wake of its controversial partnership with transgender influencer Mulvaney on April 1.
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Mulvaney's firestorm controversy stems after MAGA-hat-wearing Kid Rock, 52, posted a video shooting hails of bullets at packs of Bud Light after the activist announced she was the latest brand ambassador. Rock was later joined by artists such as Travis Tritt and John Rich in boycotting the beer. Nationwide retail sales of the brand were down 23.6 per cent versus a year ago in the week ending May 6 — its fifth straight week of declines, according to Bump Williams Consulting and NielsenIQ data.
Subsequently, conservatives have slammed Bud Light’s ad campaign, claiming the beer maker was pushing “gender propaganda.” The controversy appears to be taking its toll on other brands within the Anheuser-Busch empire. Those included Budweiser, down 9.7 per cent versus an 11.4 per cent drop a week earlier; Michelob Ultra, down 2.9 per cent versus 4.3 per cent; and Natural Light, down 2.5 per cent versus 5.2 per cent the previous week.
Meanwhile, rivals like Pabst Blue Ribbon have seen sales shoot up 21.6 per cent in the week ended May 6, slightly more than the 18.9 per cent spike the previous week, reported New York Post. Another competitor, Miller High Life, gained 10.4 per cent in sales compared to an 8.3 per cent bump over the same time period the previous week, according to Bump Williams and NielsenIQ data.
'Dylan destroyed an iconic brand'
Internet users were shocked by the brand on sale. One user tweeted, "So it's 19.99 and you get 20.00 back after a rebate. Sounds like magic." Another added, "Judging by the stock on that shelf, they can’t even do that." A third claimed, "Just saw a sale on it at a store here like 20% off. Never in my life have I seen Bud on sale." A fourth chimed, "Yep it says $19.98 on that Walmart tag." "LMAO $20 off on a $19.99 case," read a tweet. Another user said, "Wow...almost free!!??" A user wrote, "Dylan destroyed a iconic brand. Awesome stuff!!!!!"
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