Sure, beer is often canned — but statements from beer company executives certainly aren’t.
On Friday, Anheuser-Busch CEO Brendan Whitworth issued a clear and lukewarm message amid the controversy surrounding Bud Light’s new collaboration with transgender actor Dylan Mulvaney.
On April 1, Mulvaney had posted a social media video showing a special Bud Light can featuring his image. An Anheuser-Busch spokesperson told HuffPost that “the memorabilia that can be seen in the video is intended as a gift to celebrate a personal milestone and is not for sale to the general public.”
Even so, Mulvaney’s video inspired a lot of Bud Light hate from conservatives. This includes musician Kid Rock, who posted a videos from himself took a case of beer, and country music stars John Rich and Travis Tritt, who called for a boycott of Bud Light.
Meanwhile, Budweiser factories across the country have reportedly been the target of bomb threats this week.
Whitworth, who takes the helm of Anheuser-Busch in 2021, tried to ease tensions with a statement on Friday, which appeared to have something to do with it.
“As CEO of a company that was founded in the heart of America more than 165 years ago, I am responsible for making sure every consumer feels proud of the beer they make,” he wrote, noting Anheuser-Busch’s employment figures and support for “hard work. America.”
Next, Whitworth touched on why he felt the need to issue a statement without mentioning the exact reason why he made it.
“We’ve never been part of a discussion that divides people. We’re in the business of bringing people together over beer,” he said.
The former Marine then returned to the depths of obscurity and drew attention to patriotism.
“My time serving this country taught me the importance of responsibility and the values that America was founded on: freedom, hard work and respect for one another,” Whitworth said.
“I am focused on building and protecting our incredible history and heritage,” he said. “I care a lot about this country, this company, our brand and our partners. I spend a lot of time traveling in America, listening and learning from customers, distributors and others.
Whitworth promises to “continue to work hard to bring great beer to consumers across our country” – perhaps by offering more. bland, offensive statements.
Whitworth’s message may have appealed to Anheuser-Busch’s risk-averse shareholders and the company’s nervous-Nellie public relations team, but not to anyone else, based on reactions from Twitter users.