Dunkin’ Donuts Faces Conservative Backlash Over Refusal to Advertise on Rumble
In a move that echoes the recent Bud Light controversy, Dunkin’ Donuts finds itself in the crosshairs of conservative outrage, with calls for a boycott after the popular coffee chain reportedly declined to advertise on the video platform Rumble. The refusal, which some see as a clear case of corporate overreach into the political sphere, has sparked a wave of backlash on social media, where right-wing users are urging a mass boycott of the brand.
The controversy erupted after Chris Pavlovski, CEO of Rumble, took to X (formerly known as Twitter) to reveal that Dunkin’ Donuts and its parent company, Inspire Brands, had refused a proposal to advertise on the platform. According to Pavlovski, the reason given by Dunkin’ was that the “right-wing culture” of Rumble was deemed “too polarizing” for the brand’s image. This revelation has ignited a firestorm among conservative circles, with many viewing the decision as yet another example of a major corporation succumbing to the pressures of woke ideology.
Pavlovski shared a screenshot, allegedly from Dunkin’, which stated, “To be honest, [redacted] I would be opposed to showing up on the current version of the platform—the right wing culture of the site is too polarizing from a brand suitability standpoint today.” This response has not only angered the platform’s user base but has also drawn comparisons to Bud Light’s recent debacle, where the beer brand faced a significant boycott after its ill-fated partnership with transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney.
Rumble, a platform known for hosting various right-wing figures who have been banned from mainstream social media, including conspiracy theorist Alex Jones, has become a refuge for conservative voices. Pavlovski further claimed that Dunkin’ had specifically requested Rumble to drop controversial political commentator Steven Crowder from its platform, a demand that Rumble clearly found unacceptable.
The reaction from conservative social media users was swift and intense. Prominent right-wing accounts on X, such as “Catturd,” called for a Bud Light-style boycott of Dunkin’ Donuts, urging followers to stand up against what they see as corporate bullying. “So, companies like @DunkinDonuts are boycotting Rumble and X unless they drop all the truth-tellers,” Catturd tweeted. “Anyone else tired of this bulls–t? I’m calling on everyone to BudLight @dunkindonuts. Seriously, companies like @dunkindonuts think they can bully us – and what I’m asking you tonight is to stick together and turn @dunkindonuts into Bud Light.”
The call to action, accompanied by hashtags like #BoycottDunkinDonuts and #GoWokeGoBroke, has gained traction, with many conservatives vowing to take their coffee dollars elsewhere. The comparison to Bud Light is particularly noteworthy, as the beer brand suffered a dramatic sales decline following its controversial marketing decisions, becoming a cautionary tale of what happens when companies appear to align with divisive social and political movements.
This controversy also comes at a time when Rumble is embroiled in a legal battle alongside Elon Musk‘s X. The two platforms have joined forces in a lawsuit against the World Federation of Advertisers (WFA) and its member companies, including corporate giants like Unilever, Mars, CVS Health, and Orsted. The lawsuit accuses the WFA’s initiative, known as the Global Alliance for Responsible Media (GARM), of coordinating a pause in advertising on Twitter (now X) after Musk’s acquisition of the platform for $44 billion in late 2022 and his subsequent overhaul of its policies and staff.
The case highlights the growing tension between conservative media platforms and the corporate world, with companies increasingly finding themselves at the center of cultural and political battles. Dunkin’ Donuts, like Bud Light before it, now faces the challenge of navigating this turbulent landscape, where the consequences of perceived ideological stances can have real and immediate impacts on brand loyalty and consumer behavior.
As the boycott gains momentum, the coffee chain will need to decide whether to stand by its decision or attempt to mend fences with a significant portion of its customer base. One thing is clear: in today’s polarized environment, the line between business and politics is blurrier than ever, and companies like Dunkin’ Donuts are learning that lesson the hard way.
