A Bar In Indiana Is Begging For Customers To Return After Banning Them For Slamming Dylan Mulvaney's Bud Light Campaign
Go Woke, Go Broke
An Indiana bar is now retracting its previous decision to ban individuals who voiced criticism regarding Bud Light's recent partnership with the transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney, after facing intense backlash.
According to a Daily Mail report, Bud Light's sales have experienced a significant decline following their collaboration with Mulvaney in a marketing campaign, which even involved featuring his face on a beer can to commemorate his 365 days of "girlhood." As a consequence, Anheuser-Busch, Bud Light's parent company, saw a market cap decrease of nearly $6 billion as numerous Americans expressed their disapproval of the brand's move towards "wokeness."
In the aftermath of this backlash, The Fairfax Bar & Grill in Bloomington took a stand in favor of the Mulvaney campaign. The bar stated that any customers wishing to express their concerns about the matter would be asked to settle their bill and leave immediately.
The bar released a full statement that conveyed their exhaustion with the negativity surrounding the topic. They expressed a desire for open debates and discussions about this significant political and cultural issue, lamenting the current lack of opportunity for such constructive conversations.
The bar management emphasized that they view bars as public spaces meant for the exchange of ideas. However, they expressed their disappointment at the “bigotry and hatred” that arose in the wake of the Bud Light controversy.
Unfortunately, the restaurant's initial decision did not yield positive results, leading them to release another statement in an effort to entice customers back.
The statement, posted on the establishment's Facebook page, aimed to clarify their position. It emphasized the importance of respect in their establishment and acknowledged that various opinions, whether related to societal issues or sports teams, are welcome as long as they are conveyed in a respectful manner.
The restaurant highlighted their commitment to not censoring opinions but stressed the requirement for civility within their premises. They expressed a desire for a peaceful and considerate environment where diverse perspectives can be shared without resorting to ugliness, aggression, or rudeness.
After the initial decision, the restaurant faced unfavorable consequences, prompting them to issue another statement practically pleading with customers to return.
The statement, shared on their Facebook page, aimed to address the situation and clarify their stance. They acknowledged that there have been various statements made, some of which were accurate while others were not. Their main message was clear: they value respect and civility in their establishment.
The restaurant emphasized their willingness to welcome different opinions, regardless of whether they pertain to societal issues or sports teams, as long as they are expressed with respect. They assured customers that they do not intend to censor anyone's opinions but are determined to maintain a civil and harmonious atmosphere.
With this statement, the restaurant hoped to rectify any misunderstandings and extend an invitation to patrons to return, urging them to participate in discussions and debates while adhering to a respectful and courteous demeanor.
In response to the situation, the bar decided to block comments on their post due to the overwhelming influx of negative feedback.
Among the comments received, one particularly harsh remark that garnered significant attention with 200 likes before comments were disabled, read, "All I want for Christmas is to see this place shut down!" Additionally, several other individuals expressed their discontent by stating the phrase, "Go woke, go broke."
Given the intensity of the negative comments, the bar management chose to limit further discussions on the post.
The most recent statement from the restaurant stands in stark contrast to the owner McKinley Minniefield's earlier comments to Newsweek last week. At that time, he described the city of Bloomington as "a blue dot inside of a very red state."
He had expressed his stance firmly, stating, "I won't tolerate hate speech, and I think that's where I draw the line as a human, as a business owner," as he defended the ban on patrons voicing concerns about the Bud Light controversy.
Moreover, McKinley Minniefield emphasized his strong commitment to open debate and creating a space where people can freely exchange ideas. He regarded it as essential to maintain such public places, where individuals can “sit together, enjoy a beer, and engage with” those they may not necessarily agree with or share the same perspectives.
Minniefield further defended his decision to ban individuals who opposed the Mulvaney partnership during an interview with WISH-TV.
He explained, "We were just dealing with a lot of hate speech, and people being uncomfortable. My bartenders were aggravated, and we had customers that were leaving." According to Minniefield, their establishment, being a local dive bar in southern Indiana, has always welcomed a variety of ideas and discussions. However, he highlighted that the level of overtly hateful comments and behaviors related to the controversy was unprecedented in recent times.
In light of the negative and hostile atmosphere that emerged, he felt compelled to take action to maintain a respectful and enjoyable environment for all patrons. Minniefield's primary concern appeared to be the well-being of both his staff and customers, ensuring they felt safe and respected within the bar's premises.
So, the owner of The Fairfax Bar & Grill had this idea that Bloomington is like a "blue dot inside of a very red state." Basically, he was suggesting that people in red states are all haters, which is a pretty unfair assumption. It seems like a lot of folks, like me, are just fed up with being force-fed "woke" ideology and don't appreciate feeling bullied into accepting certain views.
So, he decided to push his pro-woke views on his customers, trying to silence any opposing opinions. But it didn't go as planned because people don't like being told what to think. They stood up against it, and now he's facing some serious backlash.
He tried to apologize afterward, but I'm not sure it's enough to fix things. When you try to stifle people's voices, it tends to go both ways, and that's what the woke advocates don't always get.