LGBTQ Pride festivals see corporate funding dry up after conservative boycotts: 'Will we be able to keep the doors open?'



LGBTQ Pride festivals across the United States are facing major shortfalls in corporate funding this year following several successful conservative boycotts in recent years.

According to a new report from Bloomberg, LGBTQ leaders noted that the withdrawal of several corporate sponsors from this year's Pride Month festivities is "unprecedented."

'Conservative scrutiny is really the top driver of change.'

LGBTQ leaders have warned that Pride parades and festivals face severe funding gaps because corporate sponsorships are drying up.

San Francisco Pride Executive Director Suzanne Ford told Bloomberg, "Will we be able to keep the doors open? You know, that's what I'm most concerned about now."

Ford added, "We’ve all seen the culture wars playing out as far as how corporations respond, and I think this is part and parcel of that movement."

The San Francisco Pride celebration, which is scheduled for late June, is facing a $200,000 funding shortfall following the withdrawal of sponsors including Comcast, Anheuser-Busch, Benefit Cosmetics, and liquor giant Diageo.

With about a month before Pride Month, Twin Cities Pride faces an approximate $200,000 shortfall. The LGBTQ organization noted that it would use crowdfunding to try to compensate for Target ceasing its sponsorship of the event.

Pride St. Louis, which lost Anheuser-Busch as a sponsor, is confronted by a $150,000 budget shortfall.

Denver Pride revealed that returning sponsors have cut contributions by an average of 62%, leaving a $230,000 funding deficit.

According to Bloomberg, Dollar General Corp. and Nissan Motor Co. decided not to sponsor the June Pride event in Nashville, Tennessee.

“We are currently reviewing allmarketing and sales spending,” a Nissan spokesperson told Bloomberg.

CNBC reported that Seattle Pride and New York City Pride both face $350,000 deficits.

Ryan Bos, Capital Pride Alliance’s executive director, told CNBC, "The sad thing is corporations have long been the first to step into our corner. The fact that some are questioning their commitment now during this uncertain time is very disheartening, hurtful, and frustrating for many.”

Home improvement retailer Lowe's reportedly stopped sponsoring the Charlotte Pride festival after providing funding the previous nine years.

St. Pete Pride in Florida noted that it would focus more on community donations instead of corporate sponsors after only hitting 55% of its fundraising goal as of late March, compared with the typical 80% to 90% at this time of year.

“We are the people. This is about people power and being able to use your dollar to advocate,” said Byron Green-Calisch, president of St. Pete Pride.

Nearly two-fifths of corporations plan on rolling back engagement for LGBTQ Pride Month this June.

Some LGBTQ activists are insisting that corporations continue to funnel money to Pride festivities.

“We spend our money as a community in these corporations, and I want them to give back,” demanded Andi Otto, executive director of Twin Cities Pride. “They should give back.”

According to a recent survey of 49 executives from Fortune 1000 companies by Gravity Research, nearly two-fifths of corporations plan on rolling back engagement for LGBTQ Pride Month this June. In last year's survey, only 9% of companies told Gravity Research they would alter their Pride Month engagement plans.

Forbes reported, "Of the 39% of companies who said they would reduce Pride Month engagement this year, 43% said they would reduce external shows of support, which includes having a visual presence at or financially sponsoring Pride marches, offering a Pride merchandise line, updating social media branding, and partnering with influencers for Pride-themed sponsorships."

Many of the executives who said they were scaling back Pride sponsorships noted they were retreating because of possible conservative boycotts, pressure from President Donald Trump's administration, and the backlash against DEI initiatives.

“Conservative scrutiny is really the top driver of change,” said Luke Hartig, president of Gravity Research.

Hartig noted that some of the companies had already begun pulling back in LGBTQ support as early as 2023.

In April 2023, conservatives started to wage a successful brand boycott after Bud Light partnered with transgender activist Dylan Mulvaney. Bud Light's parent company, Anheuser-Busch, lost millions in market share due to the conservative boycott.

In May 2023, Target lost billions in market value after conservatives boycotted the retail behemoth for rolling out eyebrow-raising LGBTQ Pride products.

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up!

Bud Light ditches fake chick for Shane Gillis



Bud Light has taken off its beer goggles.

The massive brand has learned a few lessons from its costly Dylan Mulvaney experiment. Among them: Fake chicks don't sell beer.

In a bid to transition from the ensuing boycott, Bud Light has hired comic Shane Gillis to star in a commercial that hearkens back to the kind of campaign that helped make it a household name.

Bud Light owner Anheuser-Busch had this to say about the partnership with Gillis:

Bud Light and football just go together. From the tailgate to the celebratory cheers in the stands to the round for friends at the bar, Bud Light is showing up for 21+ fans on gameday. Now, to rally college football fans across the country, Bud Light is introducing a new campaign in partnership with actor and comedian Shane Gillis, who stars and co-writes alongside longtime comedy partner John McKeever, who also directed the new content rolling out throughout the college football season.

'Bud Light came all the way back – UFC, Shane Gillis. Let's go!'

Titled "The Dean’s Office," the spot depicts a star football player called before college authorities to answer accusations of plagiarism. The dean offers him a bucket of Bud Light if he makes a confession.

No sooner is he about to oblige then his football coach (Gillis) butts in to confess his own embarrassing secret — and claim his reward.

Soon, everyone including the dean is making confessions — anything for a precious Bud Light.

The new beer ad was co-written by Gillis and longtime comedy partner John McKeever. The commercial also stars Steve Gerben — who co-stars with Gillis on the "Tires" sitcom.

"I like football and beer, especially Bud Light. It was fun to work with McKeever and Steve on this," Gillis said of the advertisement.

The commercial began airing August 31 during college football games on NBC, ABC, and ESPN.

Following the Dylan Mulvaney debacle, Bud Light dropped from the top-selling beer to the third, while parent company Anheuser-Busch InBev lost roughly $1.4 billion in sales since the transgender activist controversy.

Alissa Heinerscheid, marketing VP behind the ill-fated Mulvaney campaign, has said she chose the bizarre spokesman as a way to correct the brand's "fratty ... out-of-touch humor."

"And we had this hangover. I mean, Bud Light had been kind of a brand of fratty, kind of out-of-touch humor, and it was really important that we had another approach," Heinerscheid declared before being replaced.

Despite many celebrities dumping Bud Light over the Dylan Mulvaney boycott, Gillis continued to drink the controversial beer brand.

"Bud Light came all the way back — UFC, Shane Gillis. Let's go! I mean, that's a good move," Joe Rogan noted on his podcast. "Listen, I'm so happy. It just made so much sense. You never let them go. You never bailed on them," Rogan told Gillis. "In the heart of all the craziness, you never bailed on them. Kid Rock is shooting cases of it."

Rogan pitched the idea of Gillis being the new spokesperson for Bud Light during an episode of "The Joe Rogan Experience" in May 2023.

In March, Bud Light became the official beer sponsor of UFC.

The red-hot stand-up comedian has been on a massive winning streak after he was fired from "Saturday Night Live" in 2019. Gillis was fired from "SNL" just four days after being hired after it was reported that he made remarks deemed to be racist during an episode of his "Matt & Shane's Secret Podcast."

The talented comedian self-funded his first comedy special — “Shane Gillis: Live in Austin” — that has garnered more than 31 million views on YouTube. His comedy special “Shane Gillis: Beautiful Dogs” was a top-10 Netflix show in 2023. The Gillis-led scripted comedy series "Tires" debuted as Netflix's second-most watched show in May and has already been renewed for a second season.

Gillis stars in the online "Gilly and Keeves" comedy skit show. "Matt & Shane's Secret Podcast" is the most popular podcast on Patreon. Despite being terminated by "SNL," Gillis hosted "Saturday Night Live" in February. And he just capped off a successful stand-up tour — sponsored by Bud Light.

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Desperate to kneecap Justice Alito, liberal media try tying him to Bud Light boycott



The liberal media has once again launched a concerted campaign to besmirch the name of Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito and cast doubt on his impartiality in the forthcoming Jan. 6 cases. So far, this campaign — which has given fellow conservative Justice Clarence Thomas a respite from the media's usual attacks — has been as brazenly partisan as it has been toothless.

Having failed last week to land a decisive blow against the 74-year-old justice, critics scrutinized Alito's investment decisions Monday, seizing upon one in particular. While leftists believe they have found something "suspicious," it appears they have instead discovered a sound investment decision that might resonate with everyday Americans.

An American flag the left can care about

Last week, Obama hagiographer Jodi Kantor of the New York Times concern-mongered about a "'Stop the Steal' Symbol" allegedly displayed at Justice Alito's house after the 2020 election. By "'Stop the Steal' Symbol," Kantor apparently meant an American flag suspended upside down, which historically has signified distress in instances of threats to life or property.

According to the report, the offending symbol was briefly flown by Alito's wife, Martha-Ann Alito, "in response to a neighbor's use of objectionable and personally insulting language on yard signs."

'The flag was a clear violation of ethics rules ... and could sow doubt about Justice Alito's impartiality in cases related to the election and Capitol riot.'

Alito told the host of "Fox News Sunday," Shannon Bream, that a neighbor had a "F*** Trump" sign within 50 feet of where children await the school bus. When the justice's wife expressed concern about the sign, the neighbor allegedly "engaged in vulgar language, 'including the c-word.'"

— (@)  
 

Citing so-called "experts," Kantor suggested that "the flag was a clear violation of ethics rules ... and could sow doubt about Justice Alito's impartiality in cases related to the election and Capitol riot."

Despite Alito telling the Times he had nothing to do with the flying of the flag and relaying his wife's rationale, Kantor leaned on a nameless neighbor's politicized interpretation and the insights of antagonistic "experts" to suggest that the justice's involvement in Jan. 6 cases may impact confidence in the court.

Democrats immediately seized upon the story, effectively confirming its ultimate purpose.

Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) said, "Justice Alito should recuse himself immediately from cases related to the 2020 election and the January 6th insurrection, including the question of the former President's immunity in U.S. v. Donald Trump, which the Supreme Court is currently considering."

Apparently following the same template, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) said in a statement, "Samuel Alito should apologize immediately for disrespecting the American flag and sympathizing with right-wing violent insurrectionists. He must recuse himself from cases involving the 2020 election and former President Donald Trump."

The Times followed up its flag piece on Friday, this time with former Marshall Project activist Abbie VanSickle aiding Kantor in the hit.

Extra to building on the suggestion that Alito should recuse himself, the Times slammed Justice Thomas for not recusing himself from the Jan. 6 cases.

Just divestment

While Slate and other leftist blogs worked diligently over the weekend to transform the interpretation by one of Justice Alito's neighbors into a bench-clearing scandal, they did not appear to be any closer to prompting Alito to budge.

On Monday, Law Dork did its part to keep the campaign alive, publishing a blog post entitled, "Justice Alito sold Bud Light stock amidst anti-trans boycott effort."

CNBC and other mainstream outfits similarly carried the story, recycling the insight that Justice Alito allegedly ditched shares of Anheuser-Busch InBev after months of Americans boycotting Bud Light over its collaboration with a transvestic activist.The Daily Beast, like the New Republic, flagged the sale as "suspicious."

Citing a periodic transaction report in the Federal Judicial Financial Disclosure Reports database, Law Dork indicated Alito "sold at least some of his stock in Anheuser-Busch and bought stock in Molson Coors on Monday, August 14, 2023."

Justice Alito allegedly sold between $1,000 and $15,000 of AB InBev stock shortly after the company announced a 10% quarterly drop in sales in the U.S. and a sell-off of beer brands and after a sustained boycott of Bud Light over its celebration of Dylan Mulvaney's "365 Days of Girlhood."

The greater surprise might be that Alito held on as long as he did. After all, in previous months, Bud Light had ceased to be America's best-selling beer and even fell out of the top 10 ranking; analysts at global asset management firm Bernstein warned that Anheuser-Busch InBev should expect a "permanent 15% haircut"; and companies linked to Anheuser-Busch began to close down.

Despite the innocuity of this revelation, CNBC framed it thusly: "The transactions have bred fresh accusations that Alito, one of the high court's six conservatives, is engaging in or aligning with partisan politics, despite a recently adopted code of conduct that directs the justices to 'refrain from political activity.'"

Again, activists framed as experts were summoned to support the campaign.

Gabe Roth, executive director of leftist activist outfit Fix the Court, told CNBC, "This sale, given the timing and much like an upside-down flag, can be construed as a political statement."

"If the sale was in response to the Bud Light controversy last year, he might have an appearance-of-bias problem when it comes to future court cases related to trans rights," added Roth.

Democrats and their allies in the media have long attempted to neutralize Alito in the high court.

Weeks ahead of Alito dumping Anheuser-Busch InBev stock, Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee sent Chief Justice John Roberts a letter demanding that Alito recuse himself from Moore v. United States, a tax case on the Supreme Court's docket for the upcoming term.

Alito responded, "Recusal is a personal decision for each Justice, and when there is no sound reason for a Justice to recuse, the Justice has a duty to sit."

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

'That's where I'm drawing the f**king line': Kid Rock reveals what changed his opinion on Bud Light
play icon

'That's where I'm drawing the f**king line': Kid Rock reveals what changed his opinion on Bud Light



Musician Kid Rock revealed what made him get over his "grudge" against Bud Light after he "became the face" of backlash the beer brand suffered after a failed marketing campaign.

The rock artist famously shot at cases of Bud Light in a viral video in which he declared, "F**k Bud Light and f**k Anheuser-Busch," before adding, "Have a nice day!"

In addition to admitting that there was way more Bud Light on his property than he imagined, the singer, whose real name is Robert James Ritchie, told comedian Joe Rogan what changed his mind about the beer brand.

On Episode #2106 of "The Joe Rogan Experience," Ritchie recalled being at a UFC event with Donald Trump when he pointed out the "CEO of Bud Light or Anheuser-Busch" to the former president.

"Trump's like, 'You want to go talk to him?' which in my mind Trump said 'you want to go f*** with him?' and I'm like yes absolutely."

It is unclear whether he was referring to CEO of Anheuser-Busch InBev Michel Doukeris or Brendan Whitworth, CEO of the Anheuser-Busch subsidiary.

"We go over there, we're talking to him, actually a great conversation, and at some point he was telling me how he got the video and he was actually down at Texas doing some hunting," the rocker continued. He then told the beverage CEO that he "seem[s] like somebody I'd be friends with, that I'd hang out with."

 
Bud Light Boycott Over? Kid Rock Says Yes on Joe Rogan Podcast.
— (@)  
 

Ritchie revealed that he then invited the CEO to his home in Nashville, where the two became friends.

"He came with his top team, we broke bread, got f**ked up on Bud Light ... like did all this fun s***."

The multi-diamond-selling artist said that he and the executives also discussed whether there were any collaborations he could make with the brand but decided he "didn't feel comfortable with it," despite presenting "some ideas that scare the living s*** out of them."

In the end Kid Rock decided he "didn't feel right" taking their money.

The Michigan native explained that after his meetings with the beer executives, he realized that Anheuser-Busch is a very charitable company that employs many Americans. He also noted that he didn't want to be the reason any truck drivers lost their jobs.

"I did a little digging and talked to people, and I'm like, at the end of the day, all right, they got the message. I'm not someone who holds a f**king grudge his whole life."

"When they cross that line and signal to people like myself and many others that they were okay with this transgender thing and more so, is this going to get directed at my kids? So you think men should be in women's sports? No, that's where I'm drawing the f**king line. Get the f**k out of here."

 
On Joe Rogan, Kid Rock explains why he\u2019s dropped his grudge against Bud Light. \n\nHowever, the motivations to hire Dylan Mulvaney aren\u2019t discussed \u2014 ESG scores. \n\nForgiveness is fine, but shouldn\u2019t the CEO explain why corrupt ESG pressures created the chaos in the first place?
— (@)  
 

The pair also discussed new partnerships Bud Light has made with the UFC and comedian Shane Gillis, a longtime fan of Bud Light who did not join the metaphorical picket line against the company.

Rogan and Ritchie both cracked Bud Lights on camera during the podcast, at which the rock star recalled that the company sent 100 cases to his house for his birthday.

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

No Matter What Trump Says, Boycott Bud Light

Abandoning the Anheuser-Busch boycott would be a catastrophic error in the culture war.

Trump’s Defense Of Anheuser-Busch Undermines Conservatives’ Most Effective Boycott Yet

Former President Donald Trump suggested conservatives end their months-long boycott of Anheuser-Busch on Wednesday.

‘Not A Woke Company’: Trump Says Americans Should Give Bud Light Parent A ‘Second Chance’

'Anheuser-Busch is not a Woke company'

Anheuser-Busch sales crater again, but signs show executives heard costumers loud and clear



American sales of Anheuser-Busch InBev tanked in the third quarter, the company revealed on Tuesday, yet more proof that American consumers succeeded in boycotting the company for sponsoring transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney.

Globally, Anheuser-Busch InBev reported generally positive figures in sales and revenue for the third quarter, measuring metrics from July through September. But those numbers were "partially offset" by a 17% decrease in U.S. sales over the same period and a massive 13.5% drop in revenue. Overall, there was a 29.3% decline in adjusted U.S. earnings.

Executives attributed the drop-off in sales "primarily due to the volume decline of Bud Light."

The dismal U.S. numbers are the second consecutive quarter of cratering sales and nosediving revenue in the U.S. after the boycott began in April. But there are signs it could turn around for Anheuser-Busch InBev.

AB InBev CEO Michel Doukeris told analysts on a call that company research shows that 40% of costumers who stopped drinking Bud Light are willing to give the brand a second chance, CNN reported.

"This gives us some certainty that we are moving in the right direction," he said, according to CNN. "We have a good grip on what we need to do and how we are proceeding from here."

Specifically, Doukeris said that company executives understand that customers want the company to "focus on beer" because they want "beer without a debate."

Doukeris' admission is good news.

First, it demonstrates that consumers still hold the power of the purse because, six months later, Anheuser-Busch InBev is still reeling from the boycott. Bud Light drinkers were angry, and they made their voices heard loud and clear. Second, it shows that Anheuser-Busch InBev executives are listening to their customers.

They want your business, and it appears they are willing to do what it takes to earn it back.

 Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

UFC embraces embattled Bud Light beer brand with AB InBev partnership



The UFC and Anheuser-Busch have announced a partnership that will involve significant promotion of the Bud Light beer brand.

"UFC®, the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization and part of TKO Group Holdings ... together with Anheuser-Busch ... today announced a new multiyear marketing partnership. Effective January 1, 2024, the brewer will become the exclusive 'Official Beer Partner of UFC.' With this sponsorship, in the U.S., Bud Light will bring easy enjoyment to 21+ fans with 360-degree programming, including custom social and digital content, broadcast integration, on-site presence, and more," a press release states.

"AB InBev, the world's leading brewer and global parent company of Anheuser-Busch, will be UFC's Official Global Beer Partner and will receive a deep level of integration into key UFC assets, ranging from live events, including broadcast features and in-arena promotion, to original content distributed through UFC's popular digital and social channels," the press release notes.

The embattled Bud Light brand has been the target of significant public backlash since it enlisted transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney, a man who identifies as a woman, to promote the beverage.

"I'm proud to announce we are back in business together. There are many reasons why I chose to go with Anheuser-Busch and Bud Light, most importantly because I feel we are very aligned when it comes to our core values and what the UFC brand stands for. I'm looking forward to all of the incredible things we will do in the years ahead," UFC CEO Dana White said, according to the press release.

The UFC is embracing the tarnished brand, as the partnership will include broad promotion of Bud Light.

"Among the more notable integrations, in the U.S. Bud Light will receive prominent branding inside the most recognizable setting in all of sports, the world-famous Octagon®, at every UFC event including all Pay-Per-Views and Fight Nights, DANA WHITE'S CONTENDER SERIES, THE ULTIMATE FIGHTER reality series, and ROAD TO UFC, a win-and-advance tournament for Asia's top MMA prospects," the press release notes.

"Bud Light will also be integrated into custom broadcast features in all U.S. UFC Pay-Per-Views, with their popular 'Easy to Enjoy' and 'Easy to Celebrate' fan campaigns highlighted in the segments," the press relase states. "In addition, UFC and Bud Light will collaborate on original content that will be distributed through UFC’s popular digital and social channels, which reach more than 243 million users worldwide."

— (@)  
 

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Anheuser-Busch showered distributors with $150 million in 'incentive payments' to reportedly keep Bud Light on shelves



Anheuser-Busch showered distributors with $150 million in "incentive payments" to keep Bud Light beer on the shelves, according to a new report.

According to Beer Marketer’s Insights, Anheuser-Busch is offering as much as $150 million in relief this year alone to beer and liquor distributors. AB InBev will reportedly provide the distributors with millions in "market share recovery incentives."

The New York Post reported, "There were no further details about the 'market share recovery incentives,' but the timing is significant as most retailers revamp their shelf space in the spring when they look at the last 12 months of sales and determine which products are hot and deserve more space — and which will lose space."

The relief plan was started in June by Anheuser-Busch and will reportedly continue through the spring.

"Bud Light is set to lose refrigerator space at a vast network of stores belonging to key beer sellers like Walmart and 7-Eleven, since the retailers typically reapportion shelf space based on recent sales performance, taking space away from struggling brands and giving it to hot-selling ones," industry sources told ABC News in September.

Former Anheuser-Busch InBev executive Anson Frericks told ABC News that shelf space is "the single largest determinant of sales in a store."

"During a busy shopping period on a Friday or Saturday night, if you don't have the beer available cold on the shelf, consumers pick something else," Frericks explained. "There will be a dramatic shift."

Dave Williams – vice president of analytics and insights at Bump Williams Consulting – added, "There's explosive growth on one side and sharp decline on the other. This does have that ripple effect where if Bud Light loses space on the shelf, that could make it a longer-term endeavor to claw back to where they were if they're ever able to do that in the first place."

In July, a survey found that Bud Light is no longer one of the top 10 beers in America following the Dylan Mulvaney controversy. In the second quarter of 2023, Bud Light was tied for the 14th-ranked beer brand with a 42% popularity rating. Bud Light was tied with Pabst Blue Ribbon beer.

Anheuser-Busch allegedly did not immediately respond to a request for comment by the New York Post.

Anheuser-Busch waded into a culture war in April when Bud Light partnered with transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney. The move to promote the LGBTQ activist has cost Bud Light and the Anheuser-Busch parent company with declining sales, revenue, and market share.

The advertising partnership sparked outrage, backlash, and boycotts of Bud Light.

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!