What Kid Rock can learn about Bud Light and Dylan Mulvaney from 6-year-old| Robinson

Amelia Robinson is the Columbus Dispatch's opinion and community engagement editor.

@1AmeliaRobinson

Kid Rock, Travis Tritt and a host of transphobic Bud Light lovers apparently have missed a basic business fact known by any 6-year-old who has ever successfully sold lemonade: beverage makers want to sell beverages.

Their "shock" that an American company that markets its product broadly would like to sell that product broadly to a broad range of Americans is laughable.

In case you missed it.

Transgender actor, TikTok star and University of Cincinnati graduate Dylan Mulvaney's partnership with Bud Light caused "frisky grandpa" Kid Rock to shoot several cases of the light and refreshing beer with an assault rifle in an Instagram video.

Pastor: 'Transgender women are women and transgender men are men.' It is time allies stand up

"(Expletive) Bud Light. (Expletive) Anheuser-Busch. Have a terrific day," the wholesome rapper/rock/country singer and one-time drag queen enthusiast says in the video.

Formerly fringed and bedazzled country singer Travis Tritt tweeted that he is deleting "all Anheuser-Busch products from my tour hospitality rider. I know many other artists who are doing the same."

Jack Daniel's had "better" watch out too.

Tritt is big mad they teamed up with a trio of "RuPaul's Drag Race" veterans in 2021 for the reality competition "Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Fire presents Drag Queen Summer Glamp."

I am "sure" the owners of the "best-selling individual whiskey brand in the world" is shaking in their boots now that Tritt has outed them for wanting to sell their beverage to people in the LGBTQ+ community which they have for years and years.

Very delayed outrage

Anheuser-Busch has had a 20-year relationship with GLADD, an LGBTQ+ media advocacy group,  and has sold Bud Light cans and bottles decorated in colors inspired by the rainbow flag to celebrate Pride for a while now.

And the company is not alone.

Coors has advertised in gay publications since the 1980s, according to GLAAD.

It's all about selling beverages.

Bud Light has partnered with GLADD for 20 years.
Bud Light has partnered with GLADD for 20 years.

It is all very simple:

  • LGBTQ+ people drink beer just like people from most other consumer groups.

  • Anheuser-Busch, Coors and Jack Daniel's want people to buy their products so they put their products in the hands of people who appeal to people in those groups. (Example: Sassy equal pay-loving women like Amy Schumer. Bud Light features Schumer in an ad targeting sassy equal pay-loving women. )

  • Mulvaney is an influencer as are the RuPaul alums Tritt oddly tried to out with an advertisement Jack Daniel's approved.

  • Trans people and drag queens are people whose humanity and right to exist is not up for debate no matter what people want to believe.

  • Some drink beer and Tennessee whiskey.

Feb 5, 2023; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Dylan Mulvaney at the 65th Annual Grammy Awards at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 5, 2023.. Mandatory Credit: Dan MacMedan-USA TODAY
Feb 5, 2023; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Dylan Mulvaney at the 65th Annual Grammy Awards at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 5, 2023.. Mandatory Credit: Dan MacMedan-USA TODAY

Companies should try to get their money just like they try to get everyone else's.

Selling products to all kinds of people is a concept any 6-year-old entrepreneur would grasp.

Amelia Robinson is the Columbus Dispatch's opinion and community engagement editor.

@1AmeliaRobinson

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: A kid can teach Kid Rock, Travis Tritt about Bud Light and Dylan Mulvaney| Robinson