- Dana White isn’t shying away from criticism of the UFC’s deal with Bud Light
- Critics want the beer boycotted after Dylan Mulvaney was used in marketing
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Dana White has responded to critics of the UFC’s $105 million-a-year sponsorship deal with Bud Light, insisting he’s not worried about the backlash and the beer brand is “exactly the person I want to be with” . at the moment’.
Following the announcement of its six-year marketing partnership with brewer Anheuser-Busch last month, calls from UFC supporters to boycott the sport are growing.
They once held the spot as the best-selling beer in the US, but have since lost that ranking after partnering with trans activist Dylan Mulvaney in April.
Bud Light has faced months of protests and consumer anger since its ill-fated partnership with Mulvaney. The company has seen Bud Light sales decline for months.
Mulvaney shared pictures of herself holding a personalized can to celebrate the 1st anniversary of her transition and posing with beer cans in a bathtub.
Dana White has dismissed critics of the UFC’s controversial $105 million-a-year contract with Bud Light
WARNING – CONTAINS STRONG EXTENTIONS
Trans activist Dylan Mulvaney worked with Bud Light as part of the March Madness campaign in April and received a can of the light beer with her face on it, sparking outrage
The brand has been accused of getting involved in one of the most explosive culture war topics there is.
The partnership angered conservative drinkers, who quickly boycotted the brand, but also angered liberals who said the company had failed to respond in solidarity with Mulvaney.
However, when White spoke to Theo Von in a video posted on TikTok, he was convinced that Bud Light was the perfect partner for UFC.
He said, “It’s like that whole Bud Light deal.” People are talking shit now. “Sold out” and all that shit they say. Believe me, I’m the furthest thing from selling out.
“Bud Light is the right move for me.” They are exactly who I want to be with right now and we are very similar in our core values.
“I look deeper than just saying, ‘Oh, you know, they did that to whoever.'” I don’t care. You think you’re all looking for an excuse, they sure as hell won’t apologize to you.
“They had 2,500 influencers that day and gave everyone their own can.”
Bud Light’s investment will give the company a significant presence in the Octagon
reported two weeks ago that Bud Light continued to dent Anheuser-Busch’s sales as the world’s largest brewer reported a double-digit decline in U.S. sales in its most recent quarter.
Their sales in the US fell 13.5 percent between July and September. The figure was based on sales per 100 liters, a common measure of beer sales.
In August, Modelo Especial officially triumphed over Bud Light as America’s best-selling beer and Bud Light volume fell 26.7 percent.
In a statement announcing the partnership, White said, “Anheuser-Busch and Bud Light were the original beer sponsors of the UFC more than fifteen years ago.” I’m proud to announce that we’re back in business together.
“There are many reasons why I chose Anheuser-Busch and Bud Light, primarily because I feel we are very similar in terms of our core values and what the UFC brand stands for.”
“I look forward to all the incredible things we will do in the coming years.”
Anheuser-Busch CEO Brendan Whitworth said: “Anheuser-Busch and Bud Light have always been at the forefront of iconic sports moments that fans remember forever, and reuniting with UFC is a continuation of that industry-leading legacy.”