He’s making (Bud) light of the situation.
Broadway actor PJ Adzima, who is currently starring in “The Book of Mormon,” crafted a jingle in defense of Bud Light and its partnership with transgender content creator Dylan Mulvaney.
Anheuser-Busch, the parent company of Bud Light, has been slammed with criticism after Mulvaney, 26, was gifted a personalized pack of beer with her face splashed across the cans for a March Madness campaign with the brand.
The partnership came as the trans activist reached the milestone of her 365th day of transitioning.
But as Bud Light customers trash their brews and the company’s sales plunge, celebrities, including Adzima, are championing the partnership.
“The frenzy caused by such a simple act of marketing is disheartening and upsetting, to say the least,” Adzima told The Post.
“The violent rejection of Bud Light for mere association with Dylan [Mulvaney] is betraying of the deep-seated hate and transphobia in this country and the dangerous moment we’re in.”
In a clip posted to Instagram last week, Adzima, 30, donned a Bud Light cap while holding a beer and singing a catchy tune co-written with composer Eli Bolin.
He told The Post that he’s “having fun” with the “performative” nature of American beer culture, penning the jingle to “lampoon how ridiculous this controversy has grown.”
“Bud Light,” the jingle begins. “The liberal beer, so drink it if you’re cis or if you’re queer, baby.”
“Bud Light! It’s s – – tty and bland, but it’s gonna be your favorite brand as you fight for trans rights with a can in your hand, baby,” he continues as he stands on stage with a band behind him. “So drink it up like America guzzles the lies of the alt-right. Swallow it down like we swallow the terror that’s keepin’ us up at night.”
“Baby! Bud Light, so painfully gay, now I’m gonna chug one for the LGBTQIA.”
He ends the song as he gulps down the brew, crushing the can as it empties.
“OK, I’m not sure I mentioned it, but Bud Light is gay!” he adds.
The Post has reached out to Mulvaney and Anheuser-Busch for comment.
Adzima recently created a Change.org petition calling for the reinstatement of the Bud Light executives who were placed on leave amid the backlash, flaming the company for “backtracking” on their pro-inclusion advocacy.
“To punish those trying to support and uplift human beings trying to live their life authentically, beautifully, and proudly, is an enormous step backwards,” the petition, which has garnered over 8,500 signatures, reads in part.
“We stand in support of the executives who worked on the campaign for Bud Light with Dylan [Mulvaney] and call for their reinstatement. We believe that their efforts to promote diversity and inclusion in the advertising industry should be commended, not punished.”
Mulvaney, who boasts 10.8 million followers on TikTok, has shared her journey into what she calls “girlhood” for over a year.
In addition to appearing on “The Drew Barrymore Show,” she was a red carpet correspondent at the 2023 Grammy Awards and has also partnered with a slew of brands, including Kate Spade.
But now she is best known for her “failed” online adverts with Bud Light that drummed up widely-publicized controversy.
A-listers such as Kid Rock and Travis Tritt vowed to boycott the all-American ale, as reports claimed Anheuser-Busch’s value declined by $5 billion amid the viral squabble.
One influencer, Bri Teresi, filmed herself firing at Bud Light cases, lingerie and tampons with a firearm because each brand partnered with a trans person.
“Shooting a product that’s associated with a trans person encourages violence against that person and their community,” Adzima told The Post. “Everyone can drink a Bud Light — the idea that it belongs only to the far right is ridiculous — and I hope that my song reflects that.”
He hopes his tune will inspire listeners to crack open a can in solidarity with Mulvaney — instead of responding with violence.
“Wouldn’t you rather be at a party where everyone is welcome instead of spreading hate with firearms?” he added.
Bud Light’s vice president of marketing, Alissa Heinerscheid, previously said she was committed to transforming the beer’s “fratty” branding, vying for the attention of young drinkers.
Highlighting inclusivity, Heinerscheid told the “Make Yourself at Home” podcast in March that she wanted “a campaign that’s truly inclusive, feels lighter and brighter and different, and appeals to women and to men.”
But while sales plummet, right-leaning consumers criticize the company’s “woke” policies and experts even predict the brand’s demise, Anheuser-Busch claimed it “never intended to be part of a discussion that divides people.
“We are in the business of bringing people together over a beer,” they said in a statement last month.
The remarks coincided with the release of Budweiser’s pro-America Clydesdale advertisement — which was also poorly received — the company’s latest attempt to drown out the controversy and claw their way back into patriots’ hearts and bellies.
But the Bud Light brew-haha was not the only campaign angering critics.
Mulvaney, who revealed she “couldn’t sleep” after receiving so much hate, also appeared in a Nike ad promoting sports bras, which ignited a backlash.
As women burned their bras, firebrand talking head Megyn Kelly argued that the TikTok star “doesn’t have breasts” and, therefore, should not be promoting bras.
Similarly, Maybelline faced backlash and boycotts after Mulvaney, a partner with the brand, promoted the cosmetics line.
Attempting to actualize the “go woke, go broke” mantra, consumers threatened to stop purchasing the company’s products, although the campaign has yet to gain as much viral attention and influence as the Bud Light fiasco.
“I know how I’ll be spending my summer — with a Bud in my hand celebrating the LGBTQ+ community,” Adzima told The Post. “They throw better parties anyway.”
Credit: Source link
