Molson Coors, the company behind Coors and Miller Lite, seems to be scrambling to avoid the same fate as Bud Light, announcing sweeping changes to its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies. Apparently, they’ve finally realized that catering to the loudest woke voices isn’t quite the marketing strategy they thought it was. The beer giant’s sudden pivot comes in the wake of conservative activist Robby Starbuck’s relentless campaign to restore some common sense to corporate America.
Starbuck’s social media campaign has gained significant traction, causing several well-known companies to rethink their DEI policies. After pressuring companies like John Deere and Tractor Supply to make changes, Starbuck’s momentum has extended to major players like Ford, Harley-Davidson, and even Lowe’s. These companies, much like Molson Coors, have taken a step back from the whole “inclusivity” game, recognizing that pandering to niche groups often alienates their core customers.
In a letter shared by Starbuck on September 3, Molson Coors detailed its DEI rollback. Among the casualties: DEI-based training programs, donations to events like Pride, and supplier diversity goals. They’ve also untangled compensation from DEI hiring targets, and employee resource groups will no longer focus on specific races or sexual orientations. It seems they finally figured out that obsessing over identity politics doesn’t actually sell beer.
Perhaps the most notable move is Molson Coors’ decision to withdraw from the Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index—essentially a scoreboard for how LGBTQ+-friendly a workplace is. It turns out, most beer drinkers don’t need a woke stamp of approval when they crack open a cold one. As Starbuck gleefully noted on social media, his campaign is shifting the entire corporate landscape back to a neutral and sane reality. The fear of being the next Bud Light casualty is real, and it’s working.
While Starbuck’s efforts are clearly paying off, some skeptics wonder if these corporate giants will actually follow through on their promises to ditch the woke playbook. After all, we’ve seen companies pay lip service before only to quietly keep their progressive policies in place. But with Bud Light’s epic collapse still fresh in their minds, you have to imagine that Molson Coors and others won’t risk testing the patience of their customers. At least, not for now.
