Following the Dylan Mulvaney partnership fallout, Bud Light's sponsorship of the Toronto Pride parade has drawn further criticism. Videos from the event, circulated by the Post Millennial, show nude individuals cycling and interacting with attendees, including children. Some of these individuals were painted or had tattoos, and one interacted with an onlooker while another rode a recumbent bicycle with an inflatable swan around his neck. A separate video depicts a group of nude men wearing hats standing among the crowd, with children and families walking nearby.
A Bud Light float at the 2023 Pride Toronto parade. (The Post Millennial/Beth Baisch)
Additional footage shows a person in a large penis costume, with a young girl in a stroller nearby. Other videos capture nude individuals playing in a fountain surrounded by children, and a stage branded with Bud Light logos featuring scantily clad dancers. Bud Light's website confirms their decade-long sponsorship of Pride Toronto, highlighting this year's commemorative can design and continued role as the official beer sponsor.
A group of men from a Canadian naturist group at the Toronto Pride parade. (The Post Millennial/Beth Baisch)
The company also states a $100,000 contribution to Canadian LGBTQ2S+ organizations and the creation of special Pride-themed cans. Anheuser-Busch and Pride Toronto have not responded to requests for comment. This sponsorship follows the significant backlash and sales decline Bud Light experienced after its partnership with transgender activist Dylan Mulvaney. Anheuser-Busch CEO Brendan Whitworth's earlier statement emphasized the company's aim to unite people and its commitment to American values. Despite this, Bud Light's co-sponsorship of an all-ages Pride event in Flagstaff, Arizona, which featured drag queens and was promoted as a family-friendly "safe space," has further fueled controversy.
Pride Toronto attendees with Bud Light merchandise. (The Post Millennial/Beth Baisch)
