Apple Challenges the Strength of Bud Light Boycott
Apple Watch product as a plethora of other major companies are being boycotted for their associations with the LGBTQ+ community.Gender-affirming support and therapy have become a wedge issue both socially and politically.
As of Wednesday, 549 anti-trans bills have been introduced across 49 U.S. states since the beginning of 2023, according to the Trans Legislation Tracker, with 73 passing and 374 still active.The Apple Watch band's release, synced with the celebration of Pride Month in June, comes after brands including Target, Starbucks, Nike, Adidas, Miller Lite and Jack Daniel's have been criticized for LGBTQ+ friendly campaigns and merchandise.No brand has arguably been more impacted than Bud Light and its parent company, Anheuser-Busch, due to its partnership with transgender activist Dylan Mulvaney, which is expected to lead to a 26 percent decrease in market share that the company may not recover from until at least November 2024.
Reports have indicated that the beer maker has begun to buy back its own product, even past the expiration date, and has also given it away for free.Apple is selling its watch band at the retail price of $49, complemented by a matching animated watch face and iPhone wallpaper available for free download.
The band is laser-etched with the words, "Designed with pride in California."The company has a current market capitalization of approximately $2.7 trillion.
