BrewDog founders respond to transphobia accusations with vow to support LGBT community

The founders of BrewDog have responded to a petition calling on them to remove an advert accused of transphobia.

Nearly 7,000 people have called on BrewDog – a British craft beer company – to remove an advert many have labelled transphobic.

Thousands of customers have promised to boycott the company unless the offending video is removed.

The video – called Don’t Make Us Do This – asks fans of the company to become “investors”.

In order to “avoid embarrassment”, co-founders James Watt and Martin Dickie then beg viewers not force them into damaging or humiliating experiences.

A few examples of said experiences are then given – such as begging for money on the streets or becoming a trans sex worker. Watt and Dickie are then shown standing in a brothel window in women’s underwear and a wig.

Watt and Dickie then say they “need a bath”.

Now, in a statement sent to the Drum, Watt said:“The video we created was to launch the CrowdCube aspect of Equity for Punks  and was made in the spirit of fun and sending ourselves up – it’s a shame that some people have taken offence where none was intended.

“We have a history of supporting and championing the LGBT community, and will continue doing so… watch this space.”

A petition to remove the advert has been issued, stating: “BrewDog beer company claims to be ‘beer for punks’. They claim to be ethical.

“Yet in their new crowdsourcing video they mock homeless people, trans women and sex workers.”

“They say, ‘don’t make us do this’ – whilst performing as offensive caricatures of people, many of whom already suffer discrimination every day,” the petition adds.

“They are mocking the lives and experiences of people who real punks would be defending and helping.”

“Worse, this is a fundraising video – they’re using these images in an exploitative manner to make money.”

• Dec 31 2024

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