‘Brand Slapped Them In The Face’: ‘Bar Rescue’ Host On Bud Light Boycott

Jon Taffer of “Bar Rescue” said the boycott of Bud Light over its partnership with trans activist Dylan Mulvaney, a man who identifies as a woman, is “forever,” noting that customers felt the brand has “slapped them in the face.”

During the Paramount host’s appearance Monday on Fox Business, host Stuart Varney said he’s surprised that the boycott against the beer brand “has lasted so long” — while Taffer said he wasn’t at all.

“Beer brands and people’s connection to their beer is an identifier of your personality, it’s a personal thing, almost emotional,” the American entrepreneur said. “People connect with these brands very heavily and in their view the brand slapped them in the face.”

Jon Taffer joined us today to talk Bud Light!
He also says small businesses should look to the government for support.
Taffer says BILLIONS are being left on the table! pic.twitter.com/5QUtMdzhUk

— Varney & Co. (@Varneyco) June 19, 2023

“It’s almost like a spouse disappointing you in some way,” he added. “It’s emotional. Stores have reduced shelf space for the brand, Stuart. Distributors have a reduced warehouse space. They’ve reduced order numbers.”

“This is not disappearing any time soon,” Taffer continued, noting all the “distribution mechanisms around Bud Light have all been reduced to adjust to current levels. It’s forever.”

Taffer, who’s best known for his TV show rescuing struggling bars, was asked his advice on how Anheuser-Busch could possibly rescue itself from the boycott and falling market shares.

“I think that they need to go back to being a great American brand,” the TV host said. “And I think they need to stand for American values, which is what they did all these years.”

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Taffer said that at the end of prohibition, it was Budweiser’s famed clydesdale horses that delivered the first keg to the White House, and said that he thinks “they need to go back to those kind of roots.”

On Friday, Anheuser-Busch released a statement in response to the backlash against its Bud Light brand and said that it hears the customer — but did not offer an apology.

“Our summer advertising launches next week, and you can look forward to Bud Light reinforcing what you’ve always loved about our brand – that it’s easy to drink and easy to enjoy,” Anheuser-Busch CEO Brendan Whitworth said. “As we move forward, we will focus on what we do best – brewing great beer and earning our place in moments that matter to you.”

Related: Garth Brooks Doubles Down On Selling Bud Light At Bar, Talks ‘Diversity And Inclusiveness’