In the race to get as far away as possible from its Dylan Mulvaney debacle, Bud Light has swung the pendulum in the opposite direction.
Nearly a year after the epic failure of a partnership with the transgender influencer, Bud Light is hoping to recover its standing as a top beer brand by announcing it is bringing comedian Shane Gillis on board.
“Welcome to the team @shanemgillis, excited to be a part of your 2024 tour,” the company posted on Instagram.
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Gillis also touted the new partnership, posting on his Instagram account, “Excited to announce partnership with Bud Light #budlightpartner.”
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“Humor has always been at the heart of the Bud Light brand and central to our ‘Easy Enjoyment’ platform,” Todd Allen, Vice President of Marketing for Bud Light, told Fox News Digital. “We’re excited to partner with longtime fan of Bud Light, Shane Gillis, for his 2024 Live Comedy Tour where a good time with friends is always easy to enjoy.”
Gillis has had his own share of controversy.
After joining the cast of “Saturday Night Live” in 2019, videos went viral that showed Gillis making racist and homophobic remarks and he was summarily fired from the show. Gillis described himself as a “comedian who pushes boundaries.”
He spoke on the “Joe Rogan Experience” podcast last year, discussing the Mulvaney fallout.
“It became a joke,” Gillis said. “That’s tough to overcome, marketing-wise. It’s tough to get people to order a Bud Light publicly. You’re gonna get made fun of.”
“There’s never been a brand that has been hit like this before.”
Joe Rogan, Shane Gillis, Mark Normand and Ari Shaffir debate the long term effects of the Bud Light boycott. pic.twitter.com/xxV7otgCAz
— Mythinformed (@MythinformedMKE) May 30, 2023
“There’s never been a brand that has been hit like this before,” Rogan said.
Social media users had mixed reactions to the latest attempt by Bud Light to rehabilitate its image:
Bud Light cutting a deal with Shane Gillis as an influencer is low key genius. The outraged mumble mouth crowd isn’t gonna know what to think. pic.twitter.com/LqBicYtU4F
— brandon wenerd (@brandonwenerd) January 31, 2024
Shane Gillis is the only man capable to saving Bud Light. I’ll end my boycott officially now.
— I Believe TMFINR (@ToastedRavBoiz) February 1, 2024
That man’s blood is about 50% bud light. Perfect match
— Aziz Niknar (@Aziz_Niknar) January 31, 2024
Still not drinking it
— Jon (@JonIsTheFuture) February 1, 2024
— (@thatninetykid) February 1, 2024
Never forget. Most of us will never drink a drop again.
— Dark Knight Rising (@callmebruceLA) January 31, 2024
When are they going to figure out that all they needed to do was apologize and fire a few of the people responsible and move on. Then they wouldn’t have to do this, but at this point they also need to fire their CEO and run 10 apology ads during the Super Bowl…
— Abe Froman (@AbeFromanKing99) January 31, 2024
Bud light finally doing the right things.. W for Shane Gillis. Too bad it took them trying to kill their own company for it to happen lol. pic.twitter.com/tNVQBm2sMf
— Jay Mac (@jaymc1128) January 30, 2024
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Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida. Powers also contributes to BizPac Review.
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