Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday called out Bud Light for promoting transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney, saying the beermaker is “rubbing our faces” in the wokeness.
He also praised ongoing criticism and protests of the company as a “righteous thing,” because Bud Light, and others like it, will continue to promote the woke unless conservatives keep speaking out.
Likewise, DeSantis’ campaign, in a counter to Bud Light, also on Monday announced the release of a line of products called “Freedom Heavy,” which are “100% woke free.”
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DeSantis’ comment about Mulvaney came in an interview with conservative journalist Benny Johnson, who asked him about the boycott of Bud Light by some on the right.
Conservatives have hammered Bud Light, which previously had been a reliable supporter of conservative causes and candidates, since the company released cans featuring the image of Mulvaney, a biological man identifying as a woman.
The company presented the cans to Mulvaney in recognition of his “365 days of girlhood.” Since conservatives balked, as The Free Press reported, Bud Light’s share value has plunged by more than $6 billion and company executives have claimed they had no idea of the partnership with the flamboyant internet personality.
“Why do you want to drink Bud Light?” DeSantis replied to Johnson. “Honestly, that’s like them rubbing our faces in it. And it’s like these companies, if they never have any response, they’re just gonna keep doing it.”
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“So if you as a consumer are like, ‘Yeah, they’re doing that but I’m gonna keep drinking it anyways,’ well, they’re just gonna keep doing it.”
DeSantis added that conservatives have power as consumers to be heard. And in this case, Bud Light, if it doesn’t have “conservative beer drinkers,” it’s going to feel it.
“I think it’s a righteous thing,” he added of the protests, adding that Bud Light’s initiative should not be dismissed as a “stupid” one-offer.
“It’s part of a larger thing, where corporate America is trying to change our country, trying to change policy, trying to change culture. I’d rather be governed by we the people than woke companies,” said DeSantis.
“I think push-back is in order across the board, including with Bud Light.”
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DeSantis said he would never consider drinking Bud Light again, and noted his preference was for Guinness Stout.
Speaking of push-back, DeSantis’ camp on Monday also released a video to promote the “Freedom Heavy” products, which ridiculed men who compete in women’s sports.
The voiceover in the video says it is to recognize the “men who hacked the system” to participate in women’s sports.
“Once mediocre in the men’s division,” the voiceover says, “now cream of the crop in the women’s.”
“You couldn’t cut it with the boys, so you pushed women off the podium,” it continues. “Without you, women’s sports would be fair. Without you, women’s sports would be for, well, women.”
The video featured images of University of Pennsylvania swimmer Lea Thomas and other once-male athletes from ultimate fighting, track, and weightlifting who now compete as women.
The video then offers a line of products, including drink koozies, T-shirts, and baseball caps emblazoned with the logo “Freedom Heavy.”
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