Budweiser slammed for sponsoring both Pride events and the World Cup

Budweiser has been criticised for its involvement in Pride events while it continues to sponsor the World Cup in Russia.

The internationally recognised beer company was one of the sponsors of New York City Pride on Sunday.

However, Budweiser has been slammed for also sponsoring the 2018 FIFA World Cup which is currently being held in Russia.

The FIFA World Cup is in Russia for the first time (MLADEN ANTONOV/AFP/Getty)

New York City-based LGBT activist group Voices4 recently began a campaign to shame companies that supported the World Cup, using the hashtag #PrideOverGenocide.

The group state that companies cannot support the World Cup as well as Pride events in the US, and have accused Budweiser of hypocrisy.

The hosting of the World Cup in Russia has been criticised due to Russia’s stance on several human rights issues, including LGBT rights.

As well as a 2013 law banning “gay propaganda”, gay people in Chechnya have been subject to a deadly purge that has prompted over 100 gay and bisexual Chechen men and women to flee the country.

Thousands of people joined the march in New York this year (Alba Vigaray/EPA)

Russia’s treatment of LGBT people has been internationally condemned by multiple human rights organisations and may also violate FIFA’s own ethics rules.

Voices4 spokesperson Elly Brinkley said in a statement: “Including the LGBTQIA+ community in their advertising does not erase their craven decision to financially support a dangerous, homophobic regime.