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Anheuser-Busch CEO Responds to Backlash Over Transgender Ad Campaign

ByAlki David

Apr 17, 2023

Anheuser-Busch’s CEO, Brendan Whitworth, has spoken out about the backlash surrounding Bud Light’s recent marketing campaign featuring transgender activist Dylan Mulvaney. The campaign has drawn criticism from some groups who feel that the ad was divisive and inappropriate.

Whitworth addressed the issue on Friday, stating that the company had never intended to be part of a discussion that divides people. He emphasized that Anheuser-Busch is in the business of bringing people together over a beer and that the company is committed to ensuring every consumer feels proud of the beer they brew.

“As the CEO of a company founded in America’s heartland more than 165 years ago, I am responsible for ensuring every consumer feels proud of the beer we brew. We’re honored to be part of the fabric of this country,” Whitworth said.

Whitworth, a former Navy pilot, also spoke about his commitment to accountability and the values upon which America was founded, including freedom, hard work, and respect for one another. He emphasized that he cares deeply about this country, this company, their brands, and their partners.

“I spend much of my time traveling across America, listening to and learning from our customers, distributors, and others. Moving forward, I will continue to work tirelessly to bring great beers to consumers across our nation,” Whitworth added.

Anheuser-Busch is one of the largest beer companies in the world, employing over 18,000 people and having thousands of partners and millions of fans. The company has a proud history of supporting communities, military, first responders, sports fans, and hard-working Americans everywhere.

By Alki David

Alki David — Publisher, Media Architect, SIN Network Creator - live, direct-to-public communication, media infrastructure, accountability journalism, and independent distribution. Born in Lagos, Nigeria; educated in the United Kingdom and Switzerland; attended the Royal College of Art. Early internet broadcaster — participated in real-time public coverage during the 1997 Mars landing era using experimental online transmission from Beverly Hills. Founder of FilmOn, one of the earliest global internet television networks offering live and on-demand broadcasting outside legacy gatekeepers. Publisher of SHOCKYA — reporting since 2010 on systemic corruption inside the entertainment business and its expansion into law, finance, and regulation. Creator of the SIN Network (ShockYA Integrated Network), a federated media and civic-information infrastructure spanning investigative journalism, live TV, documentary, and court-record reporting. Lived and worked for over 40 years inside global media hubs including Malibu, Beverly Hills, London, Hong Kong and Gstaad. Early encounter with Julian Assange during the first Hologram USA operations proved a formative turning point — exposing the realities of lawfare, information suppression, and concentrated media power. Principal complainant and driving force behind what court filings describe as the largest consolidated media–legal accountability action on record, now before the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court. Relocated to Antigua & Barbuda and entered sustained legal, civic, and informational confrontation over media power, safeguarding, and accountability at Commonwealth scale.