Actor and social media personality Dylan Mulvaney has reportedly departed from the United States following the ongoing criticism of Bud Light and their involvement in an unsuccessful advertising campaign featuring a transgender activist. Mulvaney, who identifies as transgender, asserts that they have found a sense of security in a South American nation, despite the prevailing violence faced by transgender individuals in the region.
Mulvaney shared a TikTok video revealing their unexpected solo trip to Peru, expressing a tinge of sadness that they had to leave their home country in order to feel safe. This implies that the United States, known as the “Land of the Free,” is deemed perilous for transgender individuals. Despite purportedly living in fear for their life, Mulvaney appeared remarkably upbeat, highlighting the country’s natural beauty and crediting shamanic ceremonies for providing them with a therapeutic experience equivalent to a decade of therapy.
Bud Light faced a significant downturn in its brand reputation following an Instagram video posted by Mulvaney during a March Madness promotional event. In the video, Mulvaney revealed that the company had presented them with a personalized can of Bud Light to commemorate their “Dylan Mulvaney’s Day 365 Live!” event, which marked their first full year of living publicly as a transgender woman. This action sparked a strong backlash from Bud Light’s predominantly conservative consumer base, leading to widespread boycotts of the popular American brand.
According to The New York Times, by late June, the negative impact on Bud Light’s sales became evident. Discounted 30-packs of the light beer, with some prices even lower than that of cases of water, were being sold at nearly half the rate they had been the previous year.
Anheuser-Busch, the company responsible for manufacturing Bud Light, initially tried to defend their ill-fated marketing stunt. A spokesperson, as cited by Fox News, claimed that Mulvaney was just one of many influencers contacted by the company as part of their efforts to genuinely connect with diverse audiences. In an attempt to move past the controversy, Bud Light launched a new marketing campaign. However, sales remained sluggish, leading some distributors to worry that the negative impact might be long-lasting.
Meanwhile, Mulvaney chose an unexpected destination, Peru, for their vacation in order to find a sense of safety. This choice may seem peculiar considering Mulvaney’s active involvement in the LGBTQ+ community, as the South American country has a history of ongoing violence against transgender individuals. According to News Decoder, eight transgender individuals were murdered in Peru in 2022, and six more have tragically lost their lives so far this year.
It is worth noting that Mulvaney has since returned to the United States.
