UFC chief Dana White makes Bud Light feelings clear after Dylan Mulvaney controversy
UFC chief Dana White is unfazed by backlash after Bud Light sponsorship deal
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UFC chief Dana White has made it clear he's unfazed by the backlash after the sport announced a new major sponsorship deal with Bud Light.
The beer brand used to be the best-selling across America.
However, its reputation has taken a hit ever since a controversial partnership with trans influencer Dylan Mulvaney.
UFC stand to pocket a staggering £87million-per-year.
Bud Light were boycotted when they partnered up with Dylan Mulvaney
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But while UFC fans have condemned the sponsorship deal, White is unfazed.
“Believe me, if you think I got into this thinking that wouldn’t happen, you’re out of your mind,” he said.
“People are very opinionated about this, and it’s almost like in the COVID thing.
"Through COVID, what did I say during COVID? Somebody’s got to be first.
"There are reasons why I felt we could be first going through COVID, knew we would do it right, yada, yada, yada. You know the story.
"But when it comes to Anheuser-Busch and Bud Light, everybody talks about, ‘Oh, you did it for money.’
"Hey, dummies, all sponsorship deals are about money. OK?
"So, when you talk about being a sellout, I have multiple (offers) in front of me.
“So it’s not like Bud Light showed up and they were the only option I had to get money.
"You know how f**king stupid that is? This was all about, and I said this yesterday and I’ll say it again, everybody on every side of this deal that were involved, other beer companies and everything else absolutely, positively know that this was not about money for me.
"We were going to end up with money no matter who we ended up with.
"For Anheuser-Busch, it was about values, core values for me.
"I’m at a point in my life, and I’m at a point in my career, where nothing is just about money anymore.”
Explaining the deal further, he continued: “I am a big military, law enforcement guy.
“[Bud Light has] these Folds of Honor where they’ve spent $44 million over the last however many years, fallen first responders and military people, their families get taken care of with this money, scholarships for their kids, etc.
"That is right up my alley. Almost $1 billion a year goes to U.S. farmers for their crops, for their products. That is right up my alley.
“That is exactly who I am.
"Sixty-five thousand Americans are employed by Anheuser-Busch, and thousands of them are vets.
"Right up my alley. And I can keep going on and on forever and tell you why I’m more aligned with Anheuser-Busch than any of the other beer companies that were offering to pay us money.”
Bud Light was boycotted when it partnered up with Mulvaney over the year.
LATEST SPORTS NEWS:
We’re proud to announce that starting in 2024, we’ll once again be the official beer sponsor of @UFC pic.twitter.com/n9jcDyLhVv
— Bud Light (@budlight) October 24, 2023
And Modelo and Coors have now usurped the brand as a result.
Back in June, Mulvaney took aim at Bud Light and say they abandoned her.
“For a company to hire a trans person and then not publicly stand by them is worse, in my opinion, than not hiring a trans person at all," said Mulvaney.