Kid Rock has reintegrated Budweiser into his image after a controversy surrounding Bud Light. About a year ago, Kid Rock stirred up attention when he shared a video of himself shooting cans of Bud Light, aligning with conservative disapproval of the brand’s collaboration with transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney.
During a recent appearance on Fox News, the Trump-supporting rapper sported a “This Bud’s For You” hat, catching the attention of host Laura Ingraham. Kid Rock reacted with surprise, saying, “Oh shit,” as he removed the hat to inspect it.
Rock’s Drink Spur
Ingraham inquired if Kid Rock had changed his views regarding the drink. The rapper praised the hat’s design and claimed ignorance about which hat he had chosen for the interview.
He elaborated, “We have more important issues to focus on. I mean, what about Planet Fitness? Or Ben and Jerry’s? I don’t want to single out anyone for criticism. Target?”
Kid Rock joined a chorus of right-wing voices in boycotting Bud Light, which led to a decline in the drink’s sales and substantial layoffs at Anheuser-Busch, Bud Light’s parent company.
However, his boycott didn’t appear to last long, as he was spotted drinking Bud Light at a Nashville bar in August. Even his establishment, Kid Rock’s Big Ass Honky Tonk & Rock ‘n’ Roll Steakhouse in Music City, reportedly continued to serve the drink months after his initial video, according to CNN and Newsweek reports.
The Later Reports
In December, Kid Rock revealed to Tucker Carlson that he had ended his boycott, believing that Anheuser-Busch had “gotten the message.” During his interview with Ingraham, Kid Rock was seen holding a drink and mentioned conversations with representatives from Bud Light or Anheuser-Busch.
“They messed up,” he said. “It’s unfortunate they won’t admit it, like, ‘Hey, we made a mistake,’ you know, whatever, but that’s how they operate.” He added, “And you know, I got my answer. I don’t want to harm people’s livelihoods when they aren’t directly involved, but many other companies are worth scrutinizing.”