A Budweiser distributor in Springfield, Missouri, canceled showings of Budweiser Clydesdales this week after Bud Light’s partnership with a transgender influencer sparked a massive backlash.
Wil Fischer Distributing called off the showings this week as the uproar over the marketing stunt continues to grow. Some of the biggest names in country music started the boycott but it has spread across the country.
Angry Bud drinkers have posted videos of themselves dumping Bud Light down drains or into garbage cans using the hashtag #GoWokeGoBroke to tell the beer brand how they feel.
In a statement given to CBS affiliate KOLR10 in Springfield, an Anheuser-Busch spokesperson said Wil Fischer called off the Springfield showings “due to safety concerns for their employees.”
Country music superstars John Rich, Kid Rock and Travis Tritt led the backlash against Bud Light. Rich yanked the beer from his bar and restaurant in Nashville, Tennessee, called Redneck Riviera.
Travis Tritt said: “I will be deleting all Anheuser-Busch products from my tour hospitality rider. I know many other artists who are doing the same. Other artists who are deleting Anheuser-Busch products from their hospitality rider might not say so in public for fear of being ridiculed and canceled. I have no such fear.
“In full disclosure, I was on a tour sponsored by Budweiser in the 90’s. That was when Anheuser-Busch was American owned. A great American company that later sold out to the Europeans and became unrecognizable to the American consumer. Such a shame.
Tritt later issued a warning to Jack Daniels posting a photo of Ru Paul’s Drag Race show working with Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey company.
“All the Jack Daniels drinkers should take note,” he wrote. Tritt also infuriated Bud Light’s parent company, Anheuser-Busch, by listing the brands they have when a fan asked.
Kid Rock started off the boycott with a viral post of him shooting cases of the beer. The video has now been viewed 49.8 million times.
He says during the video:
“Grandpa is feeling a little frisky today. Let me say something to you all as clear and concise as possible,” before turning his back to the camera and firing off a few rounds at some Bud Light beer cases.
He ended with:
“F*ck Bud Light and f*ck Anheuser Bush. Have a terrific day.”
An Anheuser-Busch spokesperson said:
“Anheuser-Busch works with hundreds of influencers across our brands as one of many ways to authentically connect with audiences across various demographics and passion points.
“From time to time we produce unique commemorative cans for fans and for brand influencers, like Dylan Mulvaney.
“This commemorative can was a gift to celebrate a personal milestone and is not for sale to the general public.”
— KidRock (@KidRock) April 4, 2023
I will be deleting all Anheuser-Busch products from my tour hospitality rider. I know many other artists who are doing the same.
— Travis Tritt (@Travistritt) April 5, 2023
What beer should my bar @rnrbarnash in Nashville replace #BudLight with? @RedneckRiviera
— John Rich🇺🇸 (@johnrich) April 5, 2023
