The the former President of Anheuser Busch Sales & Distribution Co. published an op ed Saturday blasting current CEO Brendan Whitworth.
Anson Frericks called for Whitworth, his former superior who personally promoted him twice, to step down in light of the Dylan Mulvaney controversy. Months ago, Anheuser Busch sent the transgender influencer a personalized can, which lead to two social media posts that went viral. As a result of a subsequent boycott, sales have dipped and cost $20 million in market cap value, according to Frericks.
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“Whitworth has clearly shown himself to be incapable of solving the Mulvaney crisis,” Frericks wrote in the Daily Mail. “It’s time he did the right thing and stepped aside to make way for someone capable of righting the sinking Bud Light ship.”
Earlier this week, Mulvaney addressed Bud Light in an Instagram post claiming the influencer waited “for the brand to reach out to me, but they never did.” Frericks saw the post as Mulvaney cutting ties with Anheuser Busch and suggested Whitworth should have been the first to cut its ties with the influencer.
“As we move forward, we will focus on what we do best – brewing great beer for everyone and earning our place in moments that matter to our consumers,” Anheuser Busch’s statement read on Friday.
“What does that mean? Absolutely nothing,” Frericks said of the “weak and indecisive” statement.
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Whitworth is slated to set out on a “listening tour” to gather criticism from his customer base about the brand.
Bud Light attempted to recover before the July Fourth weekend with a summer ad campaign including actors with Bud Light cans, bottles, and kegs in various outdoor scenarios. Its final scene ends with the words: “Easy to drink. Easy to enjoy.”
