Bud Light, once America’s most popular beer, has been dethroned by Modelo Especial, leaving loyal Bud Light fans feeling betrayed. Sales data reveals that Modelo Especial’s sales have skyrocketed while Bud Light’s have fallen behind. According to marketing professor Daniel Korschun, this decline in Bud Light’s sales can be attributed to a sense of broken trust among both liberal and conservative customers. Recovery from this betrayal may take quite some time.

Bud Light’s struggle is not a recent development, however. Consumer brand data expert Matthew Barry explains that Bud Light’s popularity has been steadily declining for over a decade. Additionally, changing consumer tastes, particularly among younger generations, have contributed to this decline. Millennials, in particular, are showing a preference for imported beers, even if they come at a higher price.

Another obstacle for Bud Light has been its tumultuous partnership with transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney. This collaboration has faced significant backlash, resulting in stores giving away the beer for free and Bud Light having to repurchase unsold and expired beer from wholesalers.

As a result of these issues, Americans have expressed their displeasure with Bud Light through various means, including car horns, middle fingers, and jokes. However, sales trends prior to the Mulvaney controversy already suggested that Modelo was on track to become the top beer in the U.S.

Anheuser-Busch InBev, the parent company of both Bud Light and Grupo Modelo, has not yet commented on these developments. It appears that a rivalry between siblings is unfolding in the beer industry. Stay tuned for further updates on this intriguing saga.