If you were to see this headline ten years ago – hell, a year ago – you might think this is the least newsworthy item of all time.
But in today’s culture war climate, things move at a blistering, blinding pace, and today the conservative movement is boycotting Bud Light beer because of the brand’s audacity to advertise with Dylan Mulvaney, a popular transgender influencer and TikTok personality.
Conservatives are serious here, too: Kid Rock not only shot up a bunch of Bud Light cases in a video to show he meant business (other conservative personalities have vowed to never drink Bud Light again as well), but people simply aren’t buying Bud Light as much, as it has recently lost its spot as the top-selling beer in the United States.
A number of country artists have seemingly vowed to “never again” drink Bud Light or sell it at their concerts/bars, but Garth Brooks has caused something of a stir recently by announcing he’d sell every brand of beer at his upcoming Nashville bar Friends in Low Places Bar & Honky Tonk. That, of course, will include Bud Light.
Garth Brooks’ History of Supporting the LGBT Community
The Friends in Low Places Bar & Honky Tonk describes itself as “a classic honky-tonk that welcomes all and encourages love and kindness while playing the greatest music in the world in the home of Country Music!” And anyone who follows Garth Brooks knows this is nothing new for the country star, as he has long been an advocate for the LGBT community.
In 1992, Brooks release the song “We Shall Be Free,” which the artist himself claims to be the most controversial song of his career, as the lyrics are clearly about his support for gay rights:
“When we’re free to love anyone we choose,
When this world’s big enough for all different views,
When we all can worship from our own kind of pew,
Then we shall be free.”
Brooks collaborated on the song with his half-sister Betsy Smittle, a lesbian country music artist and outspoken LGBTQ+ advocate, and it would eventually win Brooks a GLAAD Media Award in 1993. The country star has continued to be a vocal supporter of equal rights for all throughout his career.
And in response to this particular backlash, Brooks continues to stand strong, having this to say in a recent Facebook livestream:
“Diversity. Inclusive. That’s me. That’s always been me. Everybody’s got their opinions. But inclusiveness is always going to be me. I think diversity is the answer to the problems that are here and the answer to the problems that are coming. So, I love diversity. All inclusive, so all are welcome. I understand that might not be other people’s opinions, but that’s OK, man. They have their opinions. They have their beliefs. I have mine.”
Like most battles in this ongoing culture war, this will become old news quick, and angry conservatives will go back to drinking Bud Light soon enough, not long after they’ve found more things to protest and people/companies/products to boycott.
Brooks has said that, ultimately, it’ll be up to the bar and its customers to determine what beers are offered based on what actually sells well. But something tells me Bud Light will end up doing just fine, likely reclaiming its title as the top-selling beer in America in no time.
(Photo credit: fatherspoon)
