Podcast host Joe Rogan criticized Anheuser-Busch for releasing what he called “the dumbest commercial of all time” in response to the company losing billions in value after partnering with transgender activist Dylan Mulvaney.
Rogan’s comments came during his podcast, where he discussed the Budweiser ad featuring a Clydesdale horse traveling from New York City to the Grand Canyon, passing by scenes of the American heartland while a narrator delivers a patriotic message.
Critics have suggested that the commercial is an attempt to repair the company’s image following the loss of customers angered by the Mulvaney partnership.
Rogan, who previously laughed off the controversy surrounding the partnership, found the beer company’s response even more amusing, mocking the ad as overly patriotic and disconnected from the brand’s true identity.
Rogan pointed out that Bud Light’s Marketing VP had expressed a desire to change the brand’s “fratty” image through inclusivity.
However, Rogan ridiculed the company’s decision to partner with Mulvaney, calling the activist a “crazy attention wh— on ‘day 365 of being a woman.'”
Both Rogan and his guest referred to the situation as “lunacy” and laughed hysterically while playing the Budweiser ad during the podcast.
Rogan continued to criticize the commercial, calling it perfectly crafted to the point of seeming computer-generated.
Rogan described the ad as “the dumbest commercial of all time” and accused Anheuser-Busch of being transparent in their attempt to regain favor with the public.
He also noted that the advertisement did not even focus on beer.
Following the controversial partnership with transgender activist Dylan Mulvaney, Anheuser-Busch reportedly lost $5 billion in value.
The company’s response in the form of the patriotic Budweiser commercial has not gone unnoticed, with high-profile commentators like Joe Rogan criticizing the ad for its apparent disingenuousness and lack of connection to the brand’s core product.
It remains to be seen whether the company will be able to recover from the backlash and regain lost customers or if it will continue to face criticism and declining value.
