On Sunday, the day of the women’s NCAA final, social media influencer Dylan Mulvaney shared a sponsored post promoting Bud Light’s March Madness contest on her Instagram. The transgender Instagram star’s post, and Bud Light’s partnership, have since ignited a conservative backlash — including heated statements from Kid Rock and Georgia’s own Grammy-winning country star Travis Tritt.
In a statement to BuzzFeed News, a representative of Bud Light’s parent company Anheuser-Busch offered support to the 26-year-old social media savant amid the rising backlash.
“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,” the company told BuzzFeed News. “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.”
On Tuesday, Kid Rock took to Instagram to criticize the partnership.
“Grandpa’s feeling a little frisky today,” Kid Rock (Robert James Ritchie) said. “Let me say something to all of you and be as clear and concise as possible.”
The Grammy nominated artist then raised a rifle into view and shot a table of Bud Light cans for dramatic effect.
“F--- Bud Light and f--- Anheuser-Busch,” he said. “Have a terrific day.”
On Wednesday, country musician Travis Tritt, a longtime Georgia resident, took to Twitter to announce that he would be removing all Anheuser-Busch products from his tour hospitality rider in response to Bud Light’s partnership with Mulvaney.
“I will be deleting all Anheuser-Busch products from my tour hospitality rider,” Tritt said on Twitter. “I know many other artists who are doing the same.”
Shortly after, Tritt posted a photo featuring a partnership between Ru Paul’s Drag Race and Jack Daniel’s Whiskey.
“All the Jack Daniels drinkers should take note,” Tritt added.
Mulvaney has not responsed to the backlash. However, the social media star with over 10 million TikTok and 1.7 million Instagram followers did take to social media on Wednesday to advertise her new Nike sponsorship.
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