Sports League Facing boycott After Partnership With Bud Light
After facing sharp declines in sales since its controversial campaign featuring transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney in April, Bud Light has come under fire again, with calls for a boycott following its recent major sponsorship deal with UFC.
The tie-up, which is reportedly worth over $100 million, was announced on Tuesday and will see Bud Light’s logo prominently displayed on fighting rinks and in marketing materials beginning in January.
The response on social media was swift, with many users expressing outrage at Bud Light’s decision to align itself with UFC. “UFC boycott is on,” one user posted, while another declared: “Time to double down on the #BoycottBudLight and now #BoycottUFC.”
Bud Light’s has faced severe backlash since its partnership with Mulvaney in April, which led to the brand being dethroned by Modelo Especial as the No. 1 beer in the US. The company has attempted to regain its status with ad campaigns featuring NFL star Travis Kelce and other high-profile sponsorships, but it seems the damage has been done.
“Bud Light and Anheuser-Busch are marketing morons to try this,” one user wrote, while another added: “It’s like picking at a scab, it’s going to leave a scar.”
Critics on social media are also demanding a boycott of any companies affiliated with Bud Light. “Should the UFC have signed a deal with Bud Light? No,” one user posted. “Will Bud Light recover? Unlikely.”
Bud Light is paying $100 Million to be the official beer of @UFC and you know what? Lighting that money on fire would have been less embarrassing than what’s about to happen. Fighters are gonna hate this. Fans will hate it. The customers aren’t coming back @budlight. Period. You… pic.twitter.com/L15A3jBLAW
— Robby Starbuck (@robbystarbuck) October 25, 2023
Some also questioned how UFC announcer and Spotify podcaster Joe Rogan, who publicly criticized Mulvaney by calling her “mentally ill” and an “attention whore,” would respond to the news of the partnership. In the past, Rogan had supported the boycott of Bud Light but continued to align himself with UFC, leading to speculation about his response to this latest development.
“Can’t wait to hear how Joe Rogan tries to worm his way through this announcement. He supported the BL boycott, but is attached to UFC at the hip,” one user wrote.
This is not the first time UFC and Bud Light have partnered with each other, as they previously had a sponsorship agreement before 2019. In the past four years, Modelo has been UFC’s primary beer sponsor.
Neither Bud Light nor UFC representatives have responded to requests for comment.
In conclusion, Bud Light has come under fire after announcing a major sponsorship deal with UFC, with many users calling for a boycott of the brand. This is not the first time Bud Light has faced backlash, as its partnership with transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney also led to sharp declines in sales. It remains to be seen how the company will handle this latest controversy and whether it will have an impact on its sales and reputation in the long run.