Global beverage giant Anheuser-Busch InBev, parent company of such brands as Budweiser, Corona, Stella Artois, and many other notables – including the late and unlamented Bud Light – held their earnings call last evening. And, while they did beat expectations across their international business, the dead elephant in the room weighing on that positive news was the formerly popular blue cans everyone now loves to hate, thanks to InBev and AHB executives themselves – the very same Bud Light.

The numbers were as gruesome as zombie stage make-up.

…The brewing giant revealed part of its plan to revitalize the brand Tuesday after it reported third-quarter earnings that beat expectations. The company’s revenue fell nearly 14% from July to September in the U.S., its largest market, as Bud Light sales sank.

…Bud Light sales are still lagging, as the brand dropped 29% in the four weeks ending Oct. 21 compared to same period a year ago, according to Nielsen data compiled by research firm Bump Williams Consulting. Sales have fallen nearly 19% this year, according to the firm. CNBC reached out to the company Anheuser-Busch for comment.

Anheuser-Busch is now trying to turn around the brand’s fortunes by marketing Bud Light through platforms it considers uncontroversial.

Are you following? They’re going to try to revive it again, because they believe it’s only?

MOSTLY DEAD

Last week, AHB tried something new on the road to revival, and re-signed with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), which they’d sponsored years ago. UFC chair Dana White said he was thrilled. to have them back and offered a full-throated endoresement.

On October 24, Anheuser-Busch announced a new “multiyear marketing partnership” with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), a popular mixed martial arts hosting company. This means Bud Light will become the “Official Beer Partner of UFC” in the U.S.

In a statement, UFC chief executive officer Dana White said: “I’m proud to announce we are back in business together.” This was in reference to Bud Light being the company’s original beer sponsors more than 15 years ago.

Huh. Pretty manly, popular sporting events. Perhaps this is part of their goal of achieving “non-controversial” platforms. How’d that go over with fans?

Hold on. I don’t think that’s what they were looking for an…DUCK!

UFC Faces Boycott Calls After Partnering With Bud Light

News that Bud Light was returning as the official beer of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) ignited an immediate firestorm of criticism on social media, sparking renewed right-wing boycott calls.

…While the terms were not disclosed publicly, ESPN reported that it was the biggest sponsorship deal in UFC history. Critics were especially enraged that the deal means the Bud Light brand, which will replace Modelo as the official beer of UFC, will have a heavy presence in all the MMA organization’s content.

The news of the deal triggered quick backlash for UFC and reignited boycott calls for the brewer, which has been plagued by criticism for months after the beer brand partnered with transgender activist Dylan Mulvaney for a promotion in April.

Yowsahs. Then White made what might be called a “tactical error” on his part, and he never WENT to Groton, Harvard, or Wharton to learn a move like this. He must be a natural.

UFC chief Dana White ripped into fans upset that he has signed a $100 million sponsorship deal with transgender agenda-pushing Bud Light, the beer brand that suffered serious financial losses after teaming with over-the-top trans activist and Tik Tok star Dylan Mulvaney.

…But fans immediately weighed in to trash Dana White for giving Bud Light a spotlight as his new UFC partner. Many felt that White was a “sellout” and that the deal was a “slap in the face” to all UFC fans. Many voices even called for a boycott of UFC events.

Asked about the growing controversy over his choice, White struck back, characterizing critical fans as “dummies,” “a**holes,” and “f**king stupid” for their opposition.

Does that name “Hillary Clinton” ring a bell, White?

Or maybe his bell’s been rung too often. Whatever the problem is, folks were irked.

#BuryThem#BankruptBudlight

— Patii (@patiisjaks5) October 26, 2023

That’s a great start to the Revival, Chapter Five – flame the people who were already mad.

REAL MAN OF GENIUS

So the wonks and winks of the Anheuser-Busch/Bud Light team had some slides made up for last night’s call with stockholders and analysts, trying to paste pretty paper over the lousy start to their latest rehabilitation efforts.

The verbiage only reinforces that they just don’t get it.

It seems they still have the same graduates of the same institutions (Wharton, Harvard, Groton) trying to repair the problems a graduate of those institutions caused.

— tree hugging s*ster 🎃 (@WelbornBeege) October 31, 2023

Specifically, the game plan slide looked like this:

Resuscitation by business school committee for what was a working class, sh*t-kicking staple.

“Wave some flags and fart, Langford. That’s what these salt-of-the-Earth people LOVE!“

Good luck with that zombie revival.

It should work out great.

I’ll have the Yuengling black and tan, barkeep.