Oh no, Bud Light.
Bud Light is apologizing today for angering fans and critics with a marketing slogan many people interpreted as pro-rape.
As part of the alcohol company's "Up For Whatever" campaign, Bud Light recently began labeling their bottles with the phrase, "The perfect beer for removing no from your vocabulary for the night." #UpForWhatever." Instead of encouraging people to adopt a carefree attitude and open minds, critics read the slogan differently and called out the company for seeming to endorse rape and unwanted sexual advances.
Official beer of the date rape crowd. "Bud Light tells its drinkers to remove 'no from your vocabulary'. #BudLight pic.twitter.com/gutzbXOJkY
? Pitt Griffin (@pittgriffin) April 28, 2015
"The Bud Light Up for Whatever campaign, now in its second year, has inspired millions of consumers to engage with our brand in a positive and light-hearted way," Alexander Lambrecht, Vice President of Bud Light at Anheuser-Busch, tells E! News in a statement. "In this spirit, we created more than 140 different scroll messages intended to encourage spontaneous fun. It's clear that this message missed the mark, and we regret it. We would never condone disrespectful or irresponsible behavior."
As for the backlash, some responded very seriously on Twitter while others made fun of Bud light for their questionable slogan. "The irony here is that most people would only drink Bud Light against their will," one person tweeted.
Comedian Daniel Tosh shared, "i want everyone to watch my show tonight, so have a bud light or two, because i am not taking ‘no' for an answer. #tosh."
Read on for some more reactions.
The irony here is that most people would only drink Bud Light against their will.
? Jason Mack (@thejasonmack) April 28, 2015
And up until this point Bud Light has shown nothing but good taste. pic.twitter.com/AaDoMECNCl
? Bob Schooley (@Rschooley) April 28, 2015
As if Bud Light calling itself a beer wasn't offensive enough, it's now making a sales pitch out of date rape. pic.twitter.com/5pNgqkKinj
? Ben Stanley (@BDStanley) April 28, 2015
People surprised that Bud Light would do something in bad taste must have never actually tried their beer.
? West Lee (@NotthatAdamWest) April 28, 2015
Bud Light debuted its tagline and is now apologizing for the rape-y overtones.
Stupid. Stupid. Stupid. pic.twitter.com/WSUk6Uq72J
? Charles Clymer (@cmclymer) April 28, 2015
Tasteless, yes, but not as tasteless as Bud Light itself. pic.twitter.com/eHvkLF1W3j
? God (@TheTweetOfGod) April 28, 2015
—Reporting by Lindsey Caldwell