Support for corporate activism plummets after Bud Light controversy: Poll

Most people do not like when businesses push political and social matters, according to new Gallup research.

Nearly 60% of people think businesses should not take public positions on current events, up from 52% in 2022.

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Democrats are more likely to favor companies taking public stances on matters, with 62% in favor, compared to only 17% of Republicans and 36% of independents thinking the same thing. Democratic support has declined from 75% last year.

Democratic support is not surprising, Consumers’ Research Executive Director Will Hild told the Washington Examiner, as most corporate activism benefits the political Left.

“These ‘woke’ policies that companies are pushing are all part of the radical, political agenda that ESG extremists like BlackRock’s Larry Fink are forcing onto companies,” the head of the consumer protection nonprofit group said. “We continue to see the social policies, known as the ‘S’ in ESG, be injected into companies through the transgender indoctrination of kids, DEI programs, and willingness to help pay for abortions.”

Some of the least popular topics people see corporations wading into are religion, political candidates, and abortion, which see support for corporate activism at 15%, 19%, and 26%, respectively.

Only 34% of people favor corporate messaging on immigration, with 37% favoring LGBT activism, 39% favoring stances on gun laws, and 45% on racial matters.

Corporate activism manifests in many ways, with one of the most prominent being celebrations of Pride month, during which companies can be seen modifying their logos to be rainbow-colored. Beer giant Anheuser-Busch lost billions of dollars after widespread boycotts for running a Bud Light ad campaign with Dylan Mulvaney, a biological male who identifies as a woman. Anheuser-Bush brand sales plummeted 24.5% in one month.

While the survey did not mention specific events causing the decline, it was taken directly after the Bud Light backlash.

Countless corporations also issued racial justice statements in the middle of the 2020 George Floyd riots while subsequently instituting diversity, equity, and inclusion offices and race-conscious hiring practices.

As Hild pointed out, corporations have been more interested in public activism, as it helps their environmental, social, and governance score. For example, the Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest LGBT lobby, initially gave Anheuser-Busch a rating of 100 for LGBT activism before taking it off the list for how it handled the backlash of the Mulvaney boycotts.

Target was caught in a similar bind after advertising LGBT children’s garments and “tuck-friendly” swimsuits. “Tucking” is the act of hiding one’s penis and scrotum between the legs in an attempt to appear more feminine. Alternatively, women compress their breasts in an attempt to appear more masculine.

“This poll is another example that Americans are fed up with these radical leftist policies being forced down their throats,” Hild said. “It is time for companies to start serving their customers and stop serving ‘woke’ politicians.”

Support for corporate activism stratifies among age and race demographics, as 61% of black people support companies taking public political stances, compared to 48% of Hispanic people and 35% of white people. However, black support for activism fell from 72% last year.

Younger groups are also more likely to support corporate activism, with 53% of adults 18-29 and 47% of those 30-44 showing support. Those groups dropped support from 59% and 51%, respectively, last year.

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The only two matters that showed majority support among all adults for corporate activism were climate change (55%) and mental health (52%). Free speech and healthcare both clocked in at 49%.

The Bentley University/Gallup survey was taken among 5,458 adults from May 8-15.