Budweiser has released a new "pro-America" advertisement following a whirlwind of controversy over its endorsement of transgender actress Dylan Mulvaney as a brand ambassador.
The minute-long ad, released Friday on social media, features one of Budweiser's famous Clydesdale horses galloping across the country and past some of America's famous landmarks.
"Let me tell you a story about a beer, rooted in the heart of America," the narrator says as the horse runs in front of the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, where Anheuser-Busch is headquartered.
"Found in a community where a handshake is a sure contract," the narrator continues, as the horse walks in front of a fire station where two men greet each other with a pound hug.
"Brewed for those who found opportunity and challenge and hope in tomorrow," the narrator says while two people raise an American flag, one saluting the star spangled banner with her hand over her heart and another wearing an arm patch that says "land of the free."
The horse then travels past the Lincoln Memorial and in front of a rural home where a father hands his son a bottle of the beer on the porch.
"Raised by generations willing to sip, share, risk, remember," the narrator says, as the camera cuts to the horse running across the Brooklyn Bridge and shows the New York City skyline with the One World Trade Center building prominent.
The horse then picks up speed, running down a country road and along a beach, before rearing with the Grand Canyon in the distance.
"This is a story bigger than beer. This is the story of the American spirit," the narrator says as "This bud's for you," is displayed across the screen.
Anheuser-Busch seems to be trying to save face after calls to boycott the company's Bud Light brand over its partnership with Mulvaney. On Friday, CEO Brendan Whitworth released a statement saying the brand "never intended to be part of a discussion that divides people. We are in the business of bringing people together over a beer."
"As the CEO of a company founded in America's heartland more than 165 years ago, I am responsible for ensuring every consumer feels proud of the beer we brew," said Whitworth's statement. "We're honored to be part of the fabric of this country. Anheuser-Busch employs more than 18,000 people and our independent distributors employ an additional 47,000 valued colleagues. We have thousands of partners, millions of fans and a proud history supporting our communities, military, first responders, sports fans and hard-working Americans everywhere."
"My time serving this country taught me the importance of accountability and the values upon which America was founded: freedom, hard work and respect for one another. As CEO of Anheuser-Busch, I am focused on building and protecting our remarkable history and heritage," Whitworth added.
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