Influencer Dylan Mulvaney, 26, has broken her silence after her partnership with Bud Light elicited backlash, mostly from conservatives who condemned the company for working with a transgender woman. After staying away from social media for a couple of weeks, Mulvaney posted a video on Instagram on Thursday to explain her experience in the midst of the controversy.
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Earlier this month, Mulvaney posted an advertisement for Bud Light on Instagram to promote a prize contest and show off beer cans that displayed her face. The company had given her these custom cans to celebrate the anniversary of her 365 Days of Girlhood series, which documented her gender transition on TikTok.
The post led celebrities like Kid Rock to boycott the company. The singer even posted a video of himself shooting cases of the beer.
Mulvaney received hateful comments online, leading the beer’s parent company, Anheuser-Busch, to send out a statement. CEO Brendan Whitworth said, “We never intended to be part of a discussion that divides people.”
In her Instagram video, Mulvaney said she grew up in a conservative household and feels lucky that they support her.
Speaking about the hateful comments, Mulvaney said, “I was nervous that you were going to start believing those things that they were saying about me since it is so loud. But I’m just gonna go ahead and trust that the people who know me and my heart won’t listen to that noise.”
She continued, explaining that she would continue with her variety show and go “back to making people laugh.” Mulvaney stated that she wants to share aspects of herself that aren’t directly tied to her identity.
The partnership with Bud Light caused Anheuser-Busch’s stock to drop. Other companies that have worked with Mulvaney like Nike have also received backlash.
