Anheuser-Busch Layoffs on Tap in Wake of Bud Light Controversy, Loss of Top U.S. Beer Spot

After losing the top spot in U.S. beer sales the past two months following the uproar around Bud Light’s involvement with transgender Instagram influencer Dylan Mulvaney, Anheuser-Busch announced it will lay off some of its U.S. corporate staff, amounting to less than 2 percent of the U.S. workforce.

According to a statement shared in news reports, an Anheuser-Busch spokesperson said the goal was to “simplify and reduce layers within its organization,” and that brewery and warehouse staff, drivers and field sales would not be included in the layoffs. Estimates say that approximately 380 positions would be eliminated.

Bud Light was supplanted as the top-selling beer in May by Modelo Especial after backlash from both conservatives and pro-LGBTQ+ advocates led to boycotts and viral videos of people destroying or dumping their Bud Light beer in protest, as well as criticism for not supporting Mulvaney enough. In June, Modelo continued to hold the top spot over Bud Light — Bud Light had been the top-selling beer in the U.S. for the better part of two decades prior.