Influencer Dylan Mulvaney has broken her silence after a promotional Instagram post for Bud Light caused a far right backlash.
Dylan took a break from social media during the backlash, which saw men purchasing dozens of cans of Bud Light beer solely in order to shoot them, run over them in their trucks, or destroy them in some other 'manly' way.
Now, she has made a video addressing the backlash, as well as calling out the company for allegedly failing to stand by her after she partnered with them.
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Dylan described how she had faced an enormous transphobic backlash following her partnership with the brand, saying: "You would have thought I was on a billboard or on a TV commercial, or something major. But no, it was just an Instagram video."
Dylan also used the moment to draw attention to the fact if she can face that much abuse despite being -in her own words - 'very privileged', then it is much worse for other trans people.
She said: "What transpired from that video was more bullying and transphobia than I could have ever imagined. I should have made this video months ago but I didn't, and I was scared. I was scared of more backlash and I felt personally guilty for what transpired. I waited for things to get better, but they haven't really.
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"I was waiting for the brand to reach out to me, but they never did. For months now I've been scared to leave my house, I've been ridiculed in public, I've been followed, and I have felt a loneliness that I wouldn't wish on anyone.
"I'm not telling you this because I want your pity. I'm telling you this because if this is my experience from a very privileged perspective, know that it is much much worse for other trans people.
"For a company to hire a trans person and then not publicly stand by them is in my opinion than not hiring a trans person at all, because it gives customers permission to be as transphobic and hateful as they want.
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"The hate doesn't end with me, it has serious and grave consequences for the rest of our community."
And addressing the can she was sent, she said: "They also sent me one can with my face on it, you might have seen it, and funny I had the can around my house but then I realised wait, I need to protect this can. So I hid it somewhere, and now I can't find it because I hid it so well.
"When I do find it I feel like it needs to go in a museum, preferably behind bulletproof glass."
The US is currently seeing an avalanche of anti-trans bills being proposed in a large number of states. While there have been some victories against the legislation, many trans people are now fleeing their homes to escape the legislation.
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If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence contact Mindline Trans+ on 0300 330 5468. The line is open 8pm–midnight Mondays and Fridays and is run by trans volunteers
Topics: Dylan Mulvaney, TikTok, Food and Drink, Transgender, LGBTQ