Bud Light's new campaign "Up for Whatever" is supposed to be about rallying people together for a good time, but recently it was mostly uniting people in anger at the brand.
Some Bud Light bottles now have the message "the perfect beer for removing 'No' from your vocabulary for the night. #UpForWhatever" printed on them, followed by "the perfect beer for whatever happens," E! Online reported.
The critics read the slogan differently and called out the company for seeming to endorse rape and unwanted sexual advances.
Alexander Lambrecht, Vice President of Bud Light at Anheuser-Busch, said in a statement that the Bud Light Up for Whatever campaign, now in its second year, has inspired millions of consumers to engage with our brand in a positive and light-hearted way.
He noted that in this spirit, they created more than 140 different scroll messages intended to encourage spontaneous fun, adding that it's clear that this message missed the mark and they regret it. "We would never condone disrespectful or irresponsible behavior."
As for the backlash, one responded on Twitter saying "the irony here is that most people would only drink Bud Light against their will," while comedian Daniel Tosh shared, "I want everyone to watch my show tonight, so have a bud light or two, because I am not taking 'no' for an answer. #tosh.
