Dylan Mulvany Instagram/Fairfax Bar and Grill Facebook
Disclaimer: This article may contain the personal views and opinions of the author.
The Fairfax Bar and Grill in Bloomington, Indiana had to backtrack after posting an off-putting message on its Facebook page in light of the Bud Light/Dylan Mulvaney controversy.
Bud Light made a commemorative can for a transgender TikTok star causing many of the brand’s loyal customers to start a boycott.
Bars all over the country followed suit and promised to take Bud Light off the menu, but not the Fairfax Bar and Grill.
The owner decided to keep the beer and alienate its customer base.
“We are tired of all of the hate. We are very open to debate and discussion and it’s truly a shame that we can’t have open conversations about this important political and cultural topic.
“Bars, in our opinion, exist as public spaces where ideas should be exchanged. Unfortunately due to all of the bigotry and hatred that has surfaced around the Bud Light controversy any patron wanting to voice their concerns about the issue will be immediately asked to pay their bill and leave our establishment,” the post stated.
“We are all aware of the controversy surrounding Bud Light. We support ALL people in this establishment no matter who you are of [sic] how you identify.
“We will continue to sell Anheiser [sic] Busch products because we don’t care who they make special cans for,” the statement said.
“If you are intolerant of other humans of any kind, we ask that you keep your opinions to yourself. Should you feel the need to discuss this matter in public you will be asked to leave. We will not tolerate intolerance here,” the statement added.
Now the bar’s owner has done a 180, launching a PR campaign to say that different opinions are welcome.
Did the bar lose some business, perhaps?
“What I really want to convey is this: just be respectful. Different opinions are welcome here as long as they are delivered respectfully,” owner McKinley Minniefield said in a new Facebook post after receiving backlash.
“We’d no more want ugly, aggressive or rude interactions about which sports team someone thinks is better, than about societal issues,” Minniefield added.
“We do not and will not censor opinions, but we do require civility in this establishment.”
“With the departure of some of our regulars, we have needed new clientele, and you have answered. I’m not gonna lie, we still need more of you right now,” the bar owner wrote, according to Fox News.
One Twitter user pointed out the irony of the situation. In the same statement, the bar owner said they are open to debate and discussion and then said they would kick out anyone wanting to voice a different opinion on the Bud Light issue.
The funny thing is the bar owner did not need to weigh in on the controversy. He could have continued serving Bud Light to those who want to drink it and let others order an alternate beer.
Instead, he chose to tell people that they were not welcome because they have a different opinion on the topic. Not a smart move for a business owner.
