2 Bud Light Execs Take Leaves of Absence After Dylan Mulvaney Controversy

Bud Light announced this week that two executives are taking leaves of absence following the company's controversial marketing campaign with transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney.

The Details: Alissa Heinerscheid, Bud Light’s vice president of marketing, and her boss Daniel Blake, who oversees marketing for Anheuser-Busch’s mainstream brands, took leaves of absence. Reports suggest the leaves weren't voluntary.

Key Quotes: “Given the circumstances, Alissa has decided to take a leave of absence which we support,” an Anheuser-Busch spokeswoman told the Wall Street Journal. “Daniel has also decided to take a leave of absence.”

For Context:  Heinerscheid oversaw the collaboration with Mulvaney, which included customizing a Bud Light can with Mulvaney's face on it, and having Mulvaney drink and promote Bud Light to 1.8 million followers on Instagram. Bud Light's sales fell steeply afterward, with one research firm suggesting that Bud Light’s volume declined by 34.7% at bars, restaurants and other venues between April 2-15. 

How the Media Covered It: Sources across the spectrum covered the leaves of absence. The Associated Press (Lean Left bias) and other left-rated outlets highlighted "experts who say inclusive marketing is simply good business — and it’s here to stay." Right-rated outlets often framed the leaves as a rightful reckoning for the purportedly misguided marketing push, and focused on Bud Light drinkers who were upset with the brand. Some right-rated sources continue to refer to Mulvaney as "he/him," while most other sources across the spectrum use "she/her."