Benzinga - by Chris Katje, Benzinga Staff Writer.
Musician Kid Rock is among the key figures who played a role in the boycott of beer brand Bud Light earlier this year.
In a new interview, Kid Rock shares details of the boycott and why he's done punishing the beer brand.
What Happened: Trans advocate and social media influencer Dylan Mulvaney was sent a can of Bud Light with her picture on it, a move that sent off a frenzy of calls for boycotts and debates on "going woke" across the country.
Bud Light owner Anheuser-Busch InBev (NYSE:BUD) was faced with boycotts for the beer brand and saw sales decline drastically during the summer months of 2023. The move knocked Bud Light from the title of bestselling beer in America.
Among the singers who spoke out against Bud Light was Kid Rock, who was seen shooting Bud Light cans of beer with an assault rifle on his property.
"F*** Bud Light and F*** Anheuser-Busch," Kid Rock said in the video.
Months later, Kid Rock may have a change of heart and is no longer boycotting Bud Light or Anheuser-Busch InBev.
In an interview with Tucker Carlson, Kid Rock discussed items like the beer boycott, woke culture and Donald Trump, who he referred to as "the greatest president we've had."
Kid Rock told Carlson he is no longer boycotting Bud Light.
"They deserved a black eye and they got one," Kid Rock said.
The musician admits that Bud Light made a mistake and they have work to do to get their base of fans back. Kid Rock admits he was pissed off by the move from Bud Light, which he said may be a result of the company moving its sales and marketing divisions from St. Louis to New York City where there are more progressives and Ivy League workers.
"Yes it was a mistake. I think they got the message."
The singer said that a continued boycott of Bud Light might not represent the punishment fitting the crime. Kid Rock compares the boycott to a spanking and now a lesson for the beer brand.
"You don't spank ‘em for the rest of their life."
The singer said he is back to drinking Bud Light, but drinks many different beers, especially if they're cold and free.
In August, Benzinga reported on images that showed Kid Rock drinking Bud Light at a concert.
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Why It's Important: The change of heart by Kid Rock could be the latest push for Bud Light to regain sales it lost earlier this year.
Anheuser-Busch InBev has launched advertising campaigns targeting country music fans, NFL fans and college football fans in a push to make up for declining sales.
The beer company also partnered with Lionel Messi to promote its Michelob Ultra beer during the 2024 Copa America, a move that could help the growing beer brand and get away from the backlash against Bud Light.
Bud Light also signed a partnership with UFC, the sports league owned by TKO Group Holdings Inc. (NYSE:TKO). Under the terms of the deal, Anheuser-Busch will become the official global beer partner of the UFC for six years.
Bud Light will replace Modelo, a brand distributed by Constellation Brands, Inc. (NYSE:STZ), which overtook the title of bestselling beer in America earlier this year.
UFC CEO Dana White was also interviewed recently by Carlson and shared his thoughts on Bud Light and the boycott backlash.
"If you consider yourself a patriot, you should be drinking gallons of Bud Light," White said. "They are way more aligned with you than these other beer companies are, I guarantee you."
White said there were multiple bidders on the table for the UFC partnership, which Anheuser-Busch InBev ultimately won.
BUD Price Action: Shares of Anheuser-Busch InBev trade at $63.30 versus a 52-week trading range of $51.66 to $67.09. Shares of the beer company are up 6% year-to-date, rebounding from lows hit earlier in the year due to the boycott.
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