Trans influencer Dylan Mulvaney has broken her silence after receiving hateful backlash for her Bud Light partnership.
Back in April, the beloved TikTok star took to her Instagram to promote Bud Light’s March Madness contest whilst simultaneously celebrating her first year living as a woman.
While many of her fans celebrated the wholesome partnership, conservative individuals and some Republican public figures announced their boycott of the popular beer while spewing harmful anti-trans rhetoric.
In response to the bigot-led backlash, Bud Light CEO Brendan Whitworth released a blanket statement that refrained from calling out the anti-trans hate towards Mulvaney.
“We never intended to be part of a discussion that divides people, we are in the business of bringing people together over a beer,” he said on 14 April.
“I care deeply about this country, this company, our brands and our partners. I spend much of my time travelling across America, listening to and learning from our customers, distributors and others.”
After months of silence, Mulvaney took to her Instagram to open up about the troubling anti-LGBTQ+ backlash in an emotional video.
“I built my platform on being honest with you, and what I’m about to tell you might sound like old news, But you know that feeling when you have something uncomfy on your chest? Well, that’s how I feel right now. So this feels like the right thing to do,” she said.
Mulvaney went on to give a quick recap of the last few months before opening up about how the onslaught of backlash and transphobic hate affected her.
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“I’m bringing it up because what transpired from that video was more bullying and transphobia than I could have ever imagined, and I should have made this video months ago, but I didn’t,” she continued.
“I was scared, and I was scared of more backlash, and I felt personally guilty for what transpired. So I patiently waited for things to get better, but surprisingly they haven’t really.
“For months now, I’ve been scared to leave my house, I have been ridiculed in public, I have been followed, and I have felt a loneliness that I wouldn’t wish on anyone.”
The young talent then called out Bud Light for their lack of silence and support during the whole ordeal.
“For a company to hire a trans person and then not publically stand by them is worse, in my opinion, than not hiring a trans person at all because it gives customers permission to be as transphobic and hateful as they want,” she explained.
“And the hate doesn’t end with me. It has serious and grave consequences for the rest of our community. And we’re customers, too.”
Towards the end of her video, Mulvaney told her followers that she wasn’t looking for pity and instead encouraged them to care about every trans person.
“I’m telling you this because if this is my experience from a privileged perspective, know that it is much, much worse for other trans people,” she added.
“If you follow me, if I’ve made you smile, if you care about me, I need you to care about, and I need you to support us, and I need you to stand by us.”
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