Trans influencer Dylan Mulvaney broke her silence and shared a powerful video about the intimidation and hatred she experienced following her partnership with famous beer brand Bud Light.

Mulvaney gained fame by celebrating “365 days of girlhood”, a vulnerable video series where she shared her experiences throughout her transition over the course of one year.

The public intimidation and bullying against Mulvaney started after the influencer posted a sponsored 50-second video on TikTok and Instagram on April 1, featuring a customised Bud Light beer can with her face on it. The can was given to her by Anheuser-Busch to celebrate her “365th day of girlhood”.

Despite the transphobia and hate that Mulvaney faced because of the video, Bud Light’s company, Anheuser-Busch, failed to support her during the backlash. The company never even contacted her, nor did they release a statement about the issue.

In a TikTok video, Mulvaney described the emotional impact of the bullying she has endured in the past few months, saying: “I have been scared to leave my house. I have been ridiculed in public. I have been followed, and I have felt a loneliness that I wouldn’t wish on anyone.”

Mulvaney said: “For a company to hire a trans person and then not publicly stand by them is worse, in my opinion, than not hiring a trans person at all — because it gives customers permission to be as transphobic and hateful as they want.”

@dylanmulvaneyTrans people like beer too. ?️‍⚧️?♬ original sound – Dylan Mulvaney

She said: “…it must have been a slow news week because, the way that this ad got blown up, you would have thought I was like on a billboard or on a TV commercial or something major. But no, it was just an Instagram video.”

The video in question garnered transphobic criticism from far-right conservatives, who were determined to boycott the beer. Conservative musician Kid Rock posted a video of himself shooting cans of Bud Light with a semiautomatic rifle while yelling profanities.

Bud Light sales dropped by 25% in the four weeks following the collaboration. Rather than standing by Dylan, Bud Light distanced their company from her. Former chief creative officer Robert Lachky called the decision to use a transgender influencer “a calamitous mistake.”

In a statement sent to suppliers, the company said: “This was one single can given to one social media influencer. It was not made for production or sale to the general public. This can is not a formal campaign or advertisement.”

The letter further stated that the promotion was provided by “an outside agency without Anheuser-Busch management awareness or approval,” adding that the “…lack of oversight and control over marketing decisions has been addressed” noting that Bud Light has hired a new VP of marketing.

Anheuser-Busch says they are “committed to the programs and partnerships we have forged over decades with organisations across a number of communities, including those in the LGBTQ+ community,” but their support lacks tangible proof.

The beer company has donated over $35,000 to anti-LGBTQ+ state-level politicians in the past, a move that prompted the iconic Stonewall Inn to ban all beers manufactured by the company in 2021.

Bud Light’s sales continue to drop and are at their lowest point since the controversy broke. Other companies, including Target and Starbucks, have recently claimed to support LGBTQ+ community and then stopped their support due to conservative backlash.

Dylan Mulvaney concludes her recent video by reminding her followers that supporting trans people is not political, and anyone who cares about the LGBTQ+ community needs to stand by trans people. She asks LGBTQ+ allies to consider donating to the Trans Law Center.