Bud Light Brewer Puts Two Executives on Leave After Uproar Over Transgender Influencer

Anheuser-Busch said it had placed on leave two executives who oversaw a Bud Light collaboration with a transgender activist.

Alissa Heinerscheid, Bud Light’s vice president of marketing, had come under fire from some customers and media outlets over the company’s decision to send a personalized Bud Light can to transgender activist and influencer Dylan Mulvaney as part of a promotion for the beer brand’s March Madness contest.

Ms. Heinerscheid and her boss Daniel Blake, who oversees marketing for Anheuser-Busch’s mainstream brands, took leaves of absence, the company said on Sunday.

“Given the circumstances, Alissa has decided to take a leave of absence which we support,” an Anheuser-Busch spokeswoman said in an email. “Daniel has also decided to take a leave of absence.”

The decision to take a leave wasn’t voluntary, according to people familiar with the matter. AB InBev named another executive to replace Ms. Heinerscheid.