Trans influencer who partnered with Bud Light having 'trouble sleeping' over backlash

WASHINGTON (TND) — A transgender influencer is apparently losing sleep over the public backlash surrounding her partnership with Bud Light.

In April, Bud Light partnered with transgender activist Dylan Mulvaney to promote its brand and celebrate her first year of transitioning.

The move has since been blasted by the public, with nationwide calls for a boycott of the brand and apparently decreased sales of Bud Light in the United States.

In a recent appearance on the "Dear Schuyler" podcast, Mulvaney opened up about being "in the public eye at the same time as learning how to be her whole self," according to the podcast episode's summary.

The trans activist admitted that she is "having trouble sleeping" over the Bud Light partnership backlash, but also openly hoped that those allegedly targeting her and other LGBTQ people will one day be able to see the "beauty humanity [and] importance of identity."

It's the long game, it's the long race," Mulvaney said after previously saying she was holding onto "grace" for her critics.

Anheuser-Busch, Bud Light's parent company, has been facing fierce backlash ever since its partnership with Mulvaney was revealed.

Mulvaney's partnership with Bud Light consisted of the social media personality sharing with her nearly 2 million followers that the beer company was celebrating her first anniversary of transitioning genders by creating a beer can with her face on it. It was apparently part of Bud Light's more extensive Pride campaign: "Celebrat[ing] everyone's identity."

The transgender activist and social media personality also shared a few other posts featuring her promoting Bud Light. One was for March Madness, and another featured her soaking in a bathtub while drinking the beer brand.

Conservative backlash towards the partnership was fierce, including some celebrities lashing out by shooting cases of the beer as a response. Calls to boycott the light beer brand spread like wildfire, with a poll showing that more than half of Americans supported boycotting Bud Light.

The latest data apparently shows the effect of those proposed boycotts. Bud Light sales for the third week in April were down 21.4% compared to the same time last year. The week before, sales were down 17%.

Viral videos showing empty lines at Bud Light stands in popular sports arenas also lend credence to the boycott narrative. Some even claim that bar customers are refusing to order the light beer.

Bud Light has made some moves following the backlash and calls for a boycott of its product over the partnership with Mulvaney. Alissa Heinerscheid, the vice president of marketing for Bud Light, has reportedly taken a leave of absence following the fierce outpouring of backlash her beer brand recently experienced.

The Wall Street Journal has reported that Bud Light has begun giving away its product for free to distributors following the backlash. Bud Light has also reportedly hired consultants who have experience within conservative circles of Washington D.C. to advise the beer brand as it attempts to move forward.

Following the outcry, Anheuser-Busch defended the partnership with Mulvaney as one of the many ways the beer company attempts to "authentically connect" with "various demographics" of potential customers.

Anheuser-Busch works with hundreds of influencers across our brands as one of many ways to authentically connect with audiences across various demographics," a spokesperson for Anheuser-Busch told Fox News. "From time to time we produce unique commemorative cans for fans and for brand influencers, like Dylan Mulvaney. This commemorative can was a gift to celebrate a personal milestone and is not for sale to the general public.

The National Desk has reached out to Anheuser-Busch for comment, but has yet to hear back. If a response is received, it will be added to this article.