Budweiser Goes Political With Seemingly Pro-Immigrant Super Bowl Ad
Perhaps the Super Bowl is one small part of American bedrock that remains unpartisan, but at least one company that will air a commercial during the broadcast is making a huge political statement — intentionally or not.
Earlier today (January 31), Budweiser unveiled a new commercial called "Born the Hard Way," a tale that chronicles co-founder Adolphus Busch’s experiences in the United States after emigrating from Germany in 1857. In the clip, Busch encounters the vitriolic scorn of Americans, who shout "You’re not wanted here! Go back home!" Ultimately, though, Busch weathers the storm and...well, if you've ever drunk a Bud, you know how things turned out for him.
The clip immediately drew parallels to the debate over President Trump's "Muslim Ban," which has amounted to the detaining of travelers from several countries that are largely populated by Muslims, according to The New York Times. But the company that shot the video told Ad Age that it didn't necessarily mean to weigh in on the news — rather, the production is meant to speak more generally to the merits of hard work.
"When Budweiser told us they wanted to celebrate those who embody the American spirit, we realized the ultimate story lived within their own brand history," Global Chief Creative Officer Mike Byrne of Anomaly said.
Still, the political impression was clear to most who viewed the ad on YouTube. "Watch out Trump might shut this company down like he fired the AG today," one YouTuber wrote in reference to the dismissal of Sally Yates, while another noted "I can't WAIT to see the 'boycott Budweiser' hashtag. I will say this, I think this is probably their best commercial in the recent years."
Catch the full version in all its glory when Super Bowl airs on February 5 on FOX.
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