Bud Light Parent Company Taps Lobbyists To Win Back Conservatives Upset Over Dylan Mulvaney Partnership

Anheuser-Busch Hires Republican Lobbyists to Win Back Conservatives

The parent company of Bud Light, Anheuser-Busch, has hired veteran Republican lobbyists to win back conservatives upset by the company’s partnership with Dylan Mulvaney, a man who claims to be a woman and chronicled his purported gender transition on social media.

Hemorrhaging Sales

Bud Light has hemorrhaged sales in recent weeks, with executives partnering with Mulvaney being the primary reason. Sales for draft beer products marketed by Anheuser-Busch fell as much as 50% in the immediate aftermath of the campaign and continue to decline weeks after the controversy as beer enthusiasts search for alternatives.

The Lobbying Effort

Sean McLean, who served as an associate director for the White House under former President Donald Trump, as well as a legislative director for Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) when she was a member of the House, was listed in the disclosure as an individual “who has acted or is expected to act as a lobbyist” for Anheuser-Busch. Emily Lynch, who worked as a legislative assistant for former Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) and Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC), was also listed in the disclosure.

The American Accountability Foundation, a conservative research and government oversight nonprofit, warned congressional staffers in an email obtained by The Daily Wire that the lobbyists were “making the rounds” in order to “red-wash Bud Light’s disastrous decision to partner with a man pretending to be a woman and tell you the company really does respect conservative values.”

Brand Managers Fail to Make Amends

Other brand managers for Bud Light have likewise failed to make amends with customers unnecessarily alienated by the partnership with Mulvaney. Anheuser-Busch CEO Brendan Whitworth issued a statement in response to the controversy but did not make mention of Mulvaney or apologize to customers.

Mulvaney continues to have a seemingly bottomless demand from companies desiring his endorsement even as their consumer bases voice frustration. Makeup brand Ulta Beauty and fashion house Kate Spade have each partnered with the influencer, as have grocery delivery service Instacart, toothpaste brand Crest, and skin care line CeraVe.