Sunday night’s Super Bowl may have been relatively free of political statements (unless you read between the lines of Lady Gaga’s epic halftime show performance), however the commercials, on the other hand, were a different story. Budweiser made a bold move by airing a spot with a decidedly pro-immigration message, documenting Adolphus Busch’s journey to America from Germany in the 1800s, where he meets up with Eberhard Anheuser in St. Louis — and from there, shall we say, history was made.
It’s not even a particularly heavy-handed message, and viewed outside of the lens of our current politically charged landscape it would seemingly just tell the origin story of how Anheuser-Busch came to be. But unfortunately, that’s not the world we live in these days, and despite the fact that Adolphus Busch was a legal immigrant, many conservatives took it as “shots fired” from the traditionally right-leaning, all American beer company.
As when Starbucks sent a message by pledging to hire 10,000 refugees from 75 different countries, another boycott with the hashtag #BoycottBudwiser quickly gained momentum on Twitter, with only one problem: That’s not how you spell Budweiser! As with the Starbucks boycott, the misspelling caused the movement to backfire, as many users began mocking the “alternative” spelling.
A. The commercial showed LEGAL immigration.
B. You spelled Budweiser wrong.
C. I'm unregistering as an R. Ya'll are idiots.#boycottbudwiser— Notorious (@RayderMan) February 6, 2017
The #boycottbudwiser hashtag isn't a typo. It's just alternative spelling.
— megan (@weganmilliamson) February 6, 2017
https://twitter.com/pooter03/status/828601821644075008
https://twitter.com/DemsTalk/status/828589042132516865
#boycottbudwiser is showing us this morning why public education is important. #notodevos
— Johnsen Del Rosario (@johnsentweets) February 6, 2017
https://twitter.com/AmandaMarcotte/status/828593247039668224
It's spelled B-U-D-W-E-I-S-E-R #boycottbudwiser pic.twitter.com/LVv1YUEoZH
— Space Force (@USA_SpaceForce) February 6, 2017
https://twitter.com/All_BETZ_AreOff/status/828624185442316288
#boycottbudwiser is trending…
Trump supporters boycotting something they can't spell should be all the #MondayMotivation you need pic.twitter.com/ChuIfZuBCL
— Waiting To Oxtail (@CoreyPTownsend) February 6, 2017
Only in America can #boycottbudwiser be trending. The people who complain about pressing 1 for English can't even spell America's beer.
— DutchessOKiefington (@dutchessofkief) February 6, 2017
#boycottbudwiser #Teabonics Somethings never change. pic.twitter.com/Gatchj38hq
— 🕴️ Gregor Anghel (@Gremlinbroom) February 6, 2017
When you're trying to start a boycott movement but you're illiterate 😂 #boycottbudwiser
— Kay (@Worldbykayblog) February 6, 2017
Republicans should boycott @BetsyDeVos instead of Budweiser; turns out education is more important than immigration. #boycottbudwiser
— Jessica Fuqua (@jessjessfuqua) February 6, 2017
Trump supporters are boycotting Budweiser for their immigration ad but they can't even spell it right i'm dying #boycottbudwiser pic.twitter.com/CFN0uPRaTG
— antonio (@antoniodelotero) February 6, 2017
#boycottbudwiser Why do Trumpsters care about an old producer of the "One Day at a Time" sitcom? pic.twitter.com/qsh9jpPNBH
— Movie Blogger Vaxxed (@MovieBlogger61) February 6, 2017
https://twitter.com/andylassner/status/828568082889195520
The Deplorables can't even spell what they are boycotting. #boycottbudwiser
— Tory (@chickat234) February 6, 2017
#boycottbudwiser first of all this is spelled wrong and alright if the racists wanna boycott fine let them more beer for me 🍺 pic.twitter.com/LEZGHa4Ogd
— Alicyn💙 (@alicynbaby) February 6, 2017
"I love the Poorly educated" #boycottbudwiser
— @esb (@esb) February 6, 2017
$50 says this guy is first to break the boycott #boycottbudwiser pic.twitter.com/VkD4UnZMt6
— Mister Race Bannon (@MrRaceBannon) February 6, 2017