Super Bowl 2017: Americans threaten to BOYCOTT Budweiser over pro-immigration commercial
PEOPLE are calling for a boycott of Budweiser after their Super Bowl 2017 commercial features a pro-immigration message.
Budweiser have featured a pro-immigration message in their Super Bowl 2017 advert
The advert depicts the story of Adolphus Busch - founder of Anheuser-Busch InBev, brewers of Budweiser, Stella Artois and Beck's - who immigrated to the United States from Germany in 1857.
The commercial is titled 'Born the Hard Way' and sees the young immigrant Busch facing adversity in his journey to St. Louis, at one point being abused by men who shout at him: "You're not wanted here," and "Go back home."
It has already racked up over 5 million views on YouTube and comes less than a week after President Donald Trump issued an executive order banning citizens of several Muslim-majority countries from entering the US and suspending refugee admissions for 120 days.
Budweiser's commercial sees their founder facing backlash for being an immigrant
Viewers are angry at Budweiser's pro-immigration message in the Super Bowl advert
It was developed early last year and shot in October, a few weeks before the presidential election.
Viewers have taken to social media slamming the advert and calling for people to boycott Budweiser.
"So besides Starbucks, I EMPLORE YOU, BOYCOTT BUDWEISER! They're CB commercial is stating how they've began supporting illegal immigrants," one person said.
Another said: "Way to go @Budweiser you've managed to p*** off middle America. You know the people who used to drink your beer. #BoycottBudweiser"
Budweiser's Super Bowl 2017 commercial has people calling for a boycott of the beer giant
Some have praised Budweiser for the timely advert
Another person added: "Well #Budweiser is going to stick its nose into our politics with their Super Bowl ad. If you own their stock sell it quickly, its going down!"
Others took to Twitter to highlight that the beer is owned by a foreign company.
However, some have received the commercial's pro-immigration message with praise.
One person tweeted: "I don't watch football and don't care about #SuperBowl but I'll watch now to support #Budweiser and its new ad, an ode to America."
One Twitter user called the ad 'an ode to America' and praised the pro-immigration message
Another commented: "Bravo #Budweiser, for reminding us that we all came from somewhere: #SuperBowl Ad about an immigrant's tale."
The commercial has a "double dose of irony," according to Russell S. Winter, a marketing professor at the New York University Stern School of Business.
"Trump's grandfather immigrated from Germany, so theres a double dose of irony," he told LA Times.
Marcel Marcondes, Vice President of marketing at Anheuser-Busch InBev said: "We created the Budweiser commercial to highlight the ambition of our founder, Adolphus Busch, and his unrelenting pursuit of the American Dream."
The advert is set to air on Sunday during the NFL championship match on Fox, a show which regularly gets over 100 million viewers in the US alone.
Express.co.uk has contacted Anheuser-Busch InBev for comment.