In a parallel universe where calamity and shame share the same master, this might be the norm. However in this world, you could not write a better script for two iconic American brands which are limping out of popularity and holding each other’s hands as they go.
Budweiser who recently faced a huge backlash over their woke ad campaign featuring trans gender; Dylan Mulvaney who was celebrating 365 days of transitioning into a woman. Budweiser for their part decided to send Dylan a can of Bud Light with her face pictured on it to celebrate.
This was shared on social media and the fires soon caught with very disapproving Americans who have long been fed up of this over enthusiasm to be woke about just about anything.
In reality it has been a huge financial blow for the company with many analysts fearing this could be the spiral downwards that the company cannot recover from.
So in a last attempt to get back to masculine footing, the company have teamed up with Harley Davidson. The new promo ad features bikers fixing bikes and supping on Buds with the H-D logo on it, albeit it does look like they taken standard cans of beer and slapped on a few Harley stickers on them.
For critics, this has been one laugh too many as they question what Budweiser think they are doing and see right through this feeble attempt to distance themselves from the previous backlash, only to be met by another. Even Harley fans have turned tail on the American brewers, now in favour of other national brands and certainly those who do not indulge in this wokeness.
Harley Davidson themselves have also been faltering in recent weeks with an uncertain stock price and once hidden financial losses now becoming evident. Couple with this new ad, for many it is seen as yet another mistake that the company does not need to make and really should know better.
In an attempt to join forces in solidarity, it appears that fans of both brands have let out their last breath of air, dropped their shoulders and resigned themselves that both companies are being run by out of touch marketing departments who really need to reengage with their customer base of the modern era. One that is fully aware of the social struggles but also do not need to be reminded on every persuasion at any given opportunity either.