Bud Light sales continue to drop, down 21.4% following trans-activist partnership

WASHINGTON (TND) — The latest numbers show Bud Light sales continue to drop after the company announced its controversial partnership with trans-activist and social media star Dylan Mulvaney on April 1.

The latest data released Monday by Bump Williams Consulting shows Bud Light sales for the third week in April were down 21.4% compared to the same time last year. The week before, sales were down 17%.

Meanwhile, competitors continue to gain ground. Coors Light sales are up 20.5%. Miller Light sales are up 21%.

The Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest LGBTQ+ civil rights group, penned a letter to Bud Light's parent company Anheuser-Busch last week. The Hill obtained a copy of the letter, which asks for renewed support of the trans community.

When faced with anti-LGBTQ+ and transphobic criticism, Anheuser-Busch’s actions demonstrate a profound lack of fortitude in upholding its values of diversity, equity, and inclusion,” wrote Jay Brown, who is the senior vice-president of the Human Rights Campaign Foundation.

In the weeks following conservative backlash to the Mulvaney partnership, Bud Light placed two executives on leave, released a patriotic ad, and Anshuesor-Busch’s CEO gave a statement saying they "never intend to be part of a discussion that divides."

Former Anheuser-Busch president of sales and distribution, Anson Frericks, told Fox Business the beer company remains in the headlines and keeps losing sales due to an accountability problem.

Anheuser-Busch has forgotten who it is accountable to. it’s accountable to its shareholders," said Frericks. "We’re a month into this controversy and the reason we’re still into this and still talking about it is Anheuser has not been clear about what Bud Light stands for. Traditionally it’s been an apolitical brand that did not get into politics."

Anheuser-Busch stock is down slightly since the controversy began but it remains by far the world’s largest beer company.