“‘We never intended to be part of a discussion that divides people. We are in the business of bringing people together over a beer.’”
Anheuser-Busch’s chief executive on Friday appeared to respond to the conservative-media backlash to Bud Light’s partnership with a trans influencer, in a statement that contained few specifics and no apology but noted the “importance of accountability.”
“We never intended to be part of a discussion that divides people,” CEO Brendan Whitworth said in the statement. “We are in the business of bringing people together over a beer.”
“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,” the statement continued. “As CEO of Anheuser-Busch, I am focused on building and protecting our remarkable history and heritage.”
The statement did not mention the influencer, Dylan Mulvaney, by name. It noted that Anheuser-Busch has “thousands of partners, millions of fans and a proud history supporting our communities, military, first responders, sports fans and hard-working Americans everywhere.”
The statement appeared to disappoint both liberals and conservatives on social media. U.S.-listed shares of Anheuser-Busch’s parent company, the Belgium-based Anheuser-Busch InBev BUD, +0.34% ABI, +1.03%, were unchanged after hours.
The anger from the right stemmed from videos Mulvaney posted on social media promoting Bud Light. Many conservatives on social platforms quickly called for a boycott, with some of them posting video showing the destruction of Bud Light. Analysts have said any impact from those calls is likely to be short-lived. And they note that the beer industry has struggled amid rising interest in self-care and alcohol alternatives.