Anheuser-Busch has ended its 30-year sponsorship of St. Louis’ PrideFest, signaling a larger shift in how corporations engage with politically charged events. The move follows continued fallout from last year’s Bud Light controversy.
Key Facts:
- Anheuser-Busch has pulled out of sponsoring St. Louis PrideFest after 30 years of support.
- PrideFest organizers say the event now faces a $150,000 shortfall in funding.
- The festival will still be held June 28-29 at Soldier’s Memorial Park in downtown St. Louis.
- Anheuser-Busch also dropped support for San Francisco Pride, contributing to a $300,000 sponsorship loss there.
- Bud Light sales were down nearly 30% year-over-year as of January 2024 following the Dylan Mulvaney controversy.
The Rest of The Story:
PrideFest in St. Louis is pressing forward despite losing one of its most long-standing corporate sponsors.
Anheuser-Busch, whose headquarters are based in the city, has chosen not to renew its financial support for the 45th annual event.
The festival now faces a significant funding gap and has launched a campaign called #45for45 to encourage donations from the community.
Pride St. Louis president Marty Zuniga expressed disappointment, calling on past attendees and supporters to fill the void.
The group insists the event will go on regardless of corporate backing.
Meanwhile, San Francisco Pride is also feeling the effects of lost sponsorships, with similar pullbacks reported.
Anheuser-Busch’s withdrawal comes in the wake of the company’s costly misstep in 2023, when its partnership with transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney led to a major backlash from core customers.
The brand has struggled to regain its footing since.
Commentary:
It looks like Anheuser-Busch may have finally read the room.
After pushing cultural politics that clashed with its customer base, the company has suffered steep financial losses—especially with Bud Light.
The numbers don’t lie.
A nearly 30% drop in sales isn’t just a fluke; it’s a message.
The partnership with Dylan Mulvaney created a cultural flashpoint.
For years, companies pushed DEI and ESG agendas into marketing campaigns with little thought to their actual customers.
But the response to Bud Light made one thing clear: the American consumer is done being lectured by their beer.
Anheuser-Busch’s decision to step back from sponsoring Pride events isn’t surprising.
It’s survival.
They saw what happened when they got political, and they’re trying not to repeat the same mistake.
It’s a shift many other companies are starting to make as well.
This isn’t about being anti-anything—it’s about staying focused on the product.
Beer companies should sell beer.
They shouldn’t push cultural agendas, especially when their customers are telling them loud and clear they don’t want it.
Donald Trump’s election proved that there’s a large segment of Americans tired of being steamrolled by elite narratives.
Anheuser-Busch got burned once. This time, they seem to be listening.
The Bottom Line:
Anheuser-Busch is stepping away from LGBT sponsorships after a painful lesson in customer backlash.
The decision reflects a broader trend as brands rethink their alignment with divisive social causes.
With Pride events scrambling to fill the financial gap, the message from middle America is clear—stay out of politics and stick to your business.
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