Can the betrayal of going woke be forgiven? Companies across the nation have defaulted to supporting an ideology that much of the country doesn’t accept.
The idea that when a company “goes woke, it goes broke” has impacted the profits of many businesses in the last few years. Conservatives have made their stance on the issue heard loudly by voicing displeasure at the cash register and not supporting woke companies.
Probably the most high-profile company that went woke was Anheuser-Busch InBev which used a transgender influencer to promote its Bud Light beer brand. That decision cost them dearly as conservative customers lashed out and stopped buying the beer in droves. The company lost billions by many estimates.
Now the leader of the political party populated by conservatives is saying it’s time to move on. Former President Donald Trump held out an olive branch to the beer maker and teased his plan to hit back at woke companies.
From Box Business:
In a post on Truth Social, Trump called the Bud Light ad featuring TikTok star Dylan Mulvaney a “mistake of epic proportions.”“And for that a very big price was paid, but Anheuser-Busch is not a Woke company, but I can give you plenty that are,” he wrote. “Am building a list, and might just release it for the world to see.”
Trump argued that his plan simply matches the way radical leftists attack those they disagree with and it’s time for conservatives to play the game at their level.
“Why not, the Radical Left does it viciously to well run, conservative companies — and people,” Trump said. “Very nasty, but it’s the way they play the game!”
Conservatives proved their voices, and their pocketbooks, can influence a woke company. Anheuser-Busch InBev was slapped back to reality when massive numbers of customers pledged to boycott Bud Light. The beer maker last year sent personalized Bud Light cans to various social media influencers, including Mulvaney, who identifies as a woman.
Bud Light quickly felt the effects of the conservative rebellion. Stores reported being forced to give away Bud Light for free. The company in some instances had to buy back unsold, expired beer from wholesalers.
The backlash hit so hard that Bud Light was replaced by Modelo Especial as the top-selling beer brand based on sales by the summer of 2023. Sales were reportedly down by almost 30% at the end of last month. Bud Light continues to struggle attracting customers and regaining those it lost.
Trump continued in his social media post by crediting Anheuser-Busch for the good work it does for the country. He praised the Bud Light parent company, saying the company spends $700 million annually “with our GREAT Farmers” while employing 65,000 Americans, of which 1,500 are military veterans. The company also raises millions in scholarship money.
“Anheuser-Busch is a Great American Brand that perhaps deserves a Second Chance?” Trump wrote. “What do you think? Perhaps, instead, we should be going after those companies that are looking to DESTROY AMERICA!”
Only time will tell if conservative customers align with Trump’s offer of forgiveness or keep spending their money on other beers. Anheuser-Busch may want to send Trump a case of personalized Bud Light. That image would go viral.
Key Takeaways:
- Donald Trump made it clear that Bud Light made a “mistake of epic proportions” last year.
- The former president recently changed his stance to give the company a second chance.
- Trump teased the idea of making a list of woke companies he says are destroying the country.
Source: Fox Business
