Following the right-wing uproar over her appearance in an Instagram ad for Bud Light, trans influencer and activist Dylan Mulvaney has broken her silence over the backlash.
After nearly three weeks of silence, Mulvaney took to TikTok to respond to the firestorm that erupted after she appeared in a 41-second ad for the beer. The right-wing meltdown included boycotts by conservatives and absurd attacks on the brand from MAGA ideologues like musician Kid Rock and Republican Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders.
Mulvaney delivered a powerful message in her response that has left many online cheering.
See her video below.
\u201cAfter taking a few weeks off, Dylan Mulvaney is back on TikTok,\u201d— Yashar Ali \ud83d\udc18 (@Yashar Ali \ud83d\udc18) 1682644327
This is not the first time Mulvaney has been attacked by right-wing media.
She began her video by saying she was “having crazy deja vu” following the uproar over her Bud Light ad, especially since it reminded her of the mockery she endured as a child who many felt was "too feminine."
She went on to say that she respects people's differences of opinion, but felt the backlash had gone way too far.
She told her followers:
“I’ve always tried to love everyone, even the people that make it really, really hard, and I think it’s OK to be frustrated with someone or confused. But what I’m struggling to understand is the need to dehumanize and to be cruel.”
Since the Bud Light controversy erupted, Mulvaney has of course been subjected to not only ridicule but misgendering and accusations of pedophilia, including by far-right Republican Georgia Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene.
She went on to say:
“I just don’t think that’s right. Dehumanization has never fixed anything in history ever.”
She also said the backlash caused her to worry some of her followers might believe the horrible accusations being leveled at her by conservatives, but decided to put those worries aside.
“I’m just going to go ahead and trust that the people who know me and my heart won’t listen to that noise."
From the response of most on social media, Mulvaney needn't have been concerned.
People were deeply moved by her message.
\u201c@yashar This message hits.\u201d— Yashar Ali \ud83d\udc18 (@Yashar Ali \ud83d\udc18) 1682644327
\u201c@yashar Beautiful. Brave. Full of grace. Welcome back, Dylan- we\u2019ve got you.\u201d— Yashar Ali \ud83d\udc18 (@Yashar Ali \ud83d\udc18) 1682644327
\u201c@yashar Sorry you\u2019re on the receiving end of so much hatred Dylan\u2764\ufe0fI love you\u2764\ufe0f\u201d— Yashar Ali \ud83d\udc18 (@Yashar Ali \ud83d\udc18) 1682644327
\u201c@yashar I admit, I had never heard of Dylan before the Bud Light thing (I'm not a Tik-Tok'er), but I must say she has a wonderful spirit, and I cannot wait to see more of her videos. I wish her well. \ud83d\udc99 \ud83d\udc99 \ud83d\udc99\u201d— Yashar Ali \ud83d\udc18 (@Yashar Ali \ud83d\udc18) 1682644327
\u201c@yashar I don't understand how anyone can hate on Dylan.\n\nThat smile is contagious.\u201d— Yashar Ali \ud83d\udc18 (@Yashar Ali \ud83d\udc18) 1682644327
\u201c@yashar She's way more graceful than we could ever deserve. What a lovely and generous woman.\u201d— Yashar Ali \ud83d\udc18 (@Yashar Ali \ud83d\udc18) 1682644327
\u201c@yashar The mistake by Bud Light was not embracing Mulvaney more when the hate came around\u201d— Yashar Ali \ud83d\udc18 (@Yashar Ali \ud83d\udc18) 1682644327
\u201c@yashar I love her! She\u2019s doing her thing! She\u2019s teaching me to be more tolerant and she\u2019s done amazing things for youth trans communities and has done a ton for The Trevor Project! I\u2019m glad she\u2019s okay!\u201d— Yashar Ali \ud83d\udc18 (@Yashar Ali \ud83d\udc18) 1682644327
\u201c@yashar @MuellerSheWrote Dylan Mulvaney, you are beautiful, inside and out and I love you. \n\nI am so so glad you are in the same world I am in. You make it a better place. \n\n\u2764\ufe0f\u2764\ufe0f\u201d— Yashar Ali \ud83d\udc18 (@Yashar Ali \ud83d\udc18) 1682644327
Mulvaney finished her video by saying she will not be deterred by the backlash—or by Bud Light's refusal to stand by her for that matter.
She told followers she's looking forward to "getting back to making people laugh" and sharing more of her life with the people who "choose to see my humanity even if you don't fully understand me."
