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After Dylan Mulvaney backlash, Bud Light releases “grunts” ad with Kansas City Chiefs’ Travis Kelce

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After Dylan Mulvaney backlash, Bud Light releases “grunts” ad with Kansas City Chiefs’ Travis Kelce


Bud Light is reverting to a male-focused tack in its advertising strategy, rolling out a new ad featuring Kansas City Chiefs’ tight end Travis Kelce. The retro ad comes in the wake of ongoing conservative backlash related to the beer brand’s marketing campaign earlier this year with transgender TikTok star Dylan Mulvaney.

Called “Backyard Grunts with Travis Kelce,” the commercial features the football player dressed in casual summer attire among other similarly dressed men as they settle into lawn chairs with grunts and groans. Some of them pop open cans of Bud Light once comfortably sprawled in their seat. 


Backyard Grunts with Travis Kelce | Bud Light by
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The latest ad, released on Sunday, comes as parent company Anheuser-Busch InBev is seeking to regain its footing after Bud Light sales plunged in May, dethroning the beer from its longtime position as America’s best-selling brew. The brand faced a boycott from some drinkers following a promotion debacle with Mulvaney, with some conservatives objecting to the marketing push featuring a trans woman. 

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Brendan Whitworth, the CEO of Bud Light parent company Anheuser-Busch InBev (ABI), told “CBS Mornings” last month that the company is sending financial assistance to distributors and wholesalers affected by the dip in sales since Mulvaney’s Bud Light promo video went viral. 

“Good times, goodwill”

He added that Anheuser-Busch plans to triple its investment in Bud Light this year as the company launches its upcoming summer campaign and prepares for the upcoming NFL season. 

“Over the last month we’ve talked to over 100,000 consumers and their feedback is very clear. What is it? The feedback is to reinforce what Bud Light has always meant to them, which is good times, goodwill, and easy enjoyment,” he said. 

The latest ad attempts to do that, by showing middle-aged men as they relax at backyard parties, near their cars and so on. But it’s unclear whether it can help win back conservative drinkers who are now snubbing the beer in favor of other brands, with many of the comments on the YouTube video’s page falling into the critical or negative camp. 

The ad also makes no attempt to make peace with the LGBTQ community, members of whom have also boycotted the beer.

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“It was absolutely an easy decision,” Mark Robertson, co-owner of 2Bears Tavern Group in Chicago, in reference to his choice to remove all Anheuser Busch InBev products from the bar’s menu, told CBS Chicago. “They kept re-doubling their efforts to bow down to those who were spewing hate.”

Last week, Mulvaney spoke out about the controversy, saying that Bud Light failed to support her or even reach out after the backlash, which stemmed from a promo video she posted featuring a personalized beer can sent to her by Bud Light.

“For a company to hire a trans person and then not publicly stand by them is worse, in my opinion, than not hiring a trans person at all,” Mulvaney said in a video on Thursday. “It gives customers permission to be as transphobic and hateful as they want.”



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Another Kansas City romance? Hallmark to make Chiefs-inspired Christmas movie

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Another Kansas City romance? Hallmark to make Chiefs-inspired Christmas movie


Move over, Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift — another love story is coming to Kansas City.

Hallmark and Skydance Sports are teaming up with the NFL to create an original Christmas movie titled “Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story.” The movie will be starring Tyler Hynes, Hunter King and Ed Begley Jr, and will take place in Kansas City and be filmed entirely on location, per NFL Media.

The synopsis of the movie says it will focus on a Chiefs “Fan of the Year” contest with a romance budding between one of the entrants and the fictional Chiefs official running the contest, played by King and Hynes, respectively. 

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“We are honored to partner with Hallmark on a project as unique as this,” Chiefs president Mark Donovan said. “As a club, we pride ourselves on exploring new ways to grow our brand, as well as connect with new audiences. This partnership unites two passionate fanbases and gives us an opportunity to show Chiefs Kingdom’s energy and tradition on one of the most-watched channels during the holiday season.”

The relationship between the Chiefs tight end and music megastar has been a major point of interest since it went public in September 2023 and has remained highly publicized since, also uniting two passionate fanbases. Swift’s appearance at Kelce’s games last year came with spikes in viewership for both the Chiefs and the NFL as Kelce helped Patrick Mahomes and Kansas City to their second straight Super Bowl title and third in five years. 

Kelce has returned the favor in the offseason as Swift continued the international leg of her “Eras Tour,” most recently making a cameo appearance in a backup dancer during a London concert  last weekend.

“With Hallmark and the Kansas City Chiefs both homegrown, rooted in values, tradition and community, there is a special alchemy between these two iconic organizations,” said Hallmark chief brand officer Darren Abbott. “By blending the warmth of Hallmark storytelling with the excitement of professional football, we are thrilled to give audiences a front-row seat to this community’s spirit, rich traditions and passionate fans that define Kansas City.”

[Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily.]

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Pet Resource Center of Kansas City helping pet owners during extreme heat

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Pet Resource Center of Kansas City helping pet owners during extreme heat


KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Staffers with the Pet Resource Center of Kansas City are patrolling streets to ensure pet safety during extreme heat.

If you can keep dogs inside the house when temperatures are this high, you should. Ensure your pets stay hydrated and have access to fresh water and shade.

The Pet Resource Center of Kansas City can provide cooling items for pet owners who need them.

“We’re out patrolling the community, helping clients that we know have outdoor dogs, talking to them about what a heat stroke looks like, what heat exhaustion looks like, what they must have if they’re going to have their dogs outside,” said Rae Lindsey, outreach and mobile manager for the Pet Resource Center. “So a little bit of patrolling and helping people out in the community, but also checking on folks that we know have pets outside.”

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Lindsey said if your pet’s heart rate is high, then they could be experiencing a heat-related illness.

For cats, panting is the most obvious sign of heat exhaustion.

“You never want to cool off a pet too quickly,” Lindsey said. “Kind of like with us, if you’re getting into a heat exhaustion state, you want to cool down slowly. Dogs pant and drool, excessive drooling, lack of being able to hold themselves up, vomiting, and diarrhea are all signs of heat exhaustion. Heat exhaustion also can last 24 to 48 hours.”

During patrols, Pet Resource Center staffers stop by clients’ houses and drop off cooling supplies, including gates and kennels, to facilitate safe indoor environments and water bowls, cooling mats, and other accessories.

“We kept coming out here and making sure there was plenty of water and everything. ” Pet Resource Center Client Brenda Kirkwood said he didn’t eat but drank the water. “It’s complicated because there’s really nowhere for him to go, but just right here, there’s no shade. So that’s his hideaway.”

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While on pet patrols, they also educate people on heat safety and the services they offer.
“If you’re going to go out on a walk with your pet, do it first thing in the morning or late in the evening when the sun is set, and it’s a little bit cooler,” Lindsey said. “And if your dog is outside make sure that you’re checking on them regularly to make sure that he’s not having any of those symptoms of heat exhaustion.”

If you have concerns about your pet’s well-being in the summer heat and need assistance, reach out to the pet resource center at outreach@prckc.org.



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Kansas organizations share tips to prevent fireworks injuries on July 4

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Kansas organizations share tips to prevent fireworks injuries on July 4


TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) – Kansas Department of Health and Environment, Office of the State Fire Marshal (KSFM) and Safe Kids Kansas are sharing tips to prevent fireworks injuries on July 4.

According to Safe Kids Kansas officials, in 2023, there were a total of 146 injuries caused by fireworks in Kansas. The person igniting the firework was most likely to be injured, and the hands were the most common body part to be injured. Over half of the injuries that occurred from fireworks that happened on July 4th were from burns. There was a 43 percent increase in reported injuries from 2022.

Safe Kids Kansas said with the exception of two age groups, all saw an increase. Injuries more than doubled for the 14-18 year old age group. The highest incidents of injuries were caused by mortars or artillery fireworks and other fireworks like parachutes, fountains and spinning items. This data was collected through voluntary reporting from Kansas hospitals and administered by the Office of the State Fire Marshal.

“Sparklers are often thought to be safe for young children, but they account for roughly one-quarter of all emergency room visits related to fireworks,” said Cherie Sage, director of Safe Kids Kansas. “Children should not light fireworks, including sparklers, which burn at a temperature hot enough to melt glass. We encourage parents to let their little ones use glow sticks instead of sparklers and leave the rest to grownups.”

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Safe Kids Kansas officials said grilling is another favorite part of many summertime gatherings. Make sure grills are used outdoors only, away from the home and deck railings, and out from under eaves and overhanging branches. Keep children and pets away from the grill area and never leave your grill unattended. Clean your grill regularly to prevent grease fires.

“Enjoy a safe and happy July 4th,” said Mark Engholm, State Fire Marshal.  “Always follow firework safety guidelines: keep spectators at a safe distance, never relight malfunctioning fireworks, and have a fire extinguisher or water source ready. When grilling, ensure the grill is on a flat, stable surface away from structures and flammable materials. Let’s celebrate responsibly and protect our community. If possible, go to a public fireworks display.”

Safe Kids Kansas shared tips to keep your celebrations safe on July 4:

  • Have adults supervise children and pets around grills and fireworks.
  • Designate a child-free safety zone around grills and areas where fireworks are being lit.
  • Store fireworks in a cool, dry place.
  • Adults should only handle fireworks. Consider giving children glow sticks, which also help you see little ones after dark.
  • Have a water supply ready, such as a bucket of water or garden hose.
  • Dispose of used fireworks carefully, as they may reignite.
  • Keep a first-aid kit available and nearby.
  • Ignite fireworks outdoors on a flat surface.
  • Light only one firework at a time.
  • Never stand over fireworks when lighting or holding a firework in your hand when lighting the fuse and wear eye protection.
  • Never try to re-light or pick up fireworks that have not ignited fully.
  • Never attempt to make your own fireworks.

Safe Kids Kansas indicated bottle rockets are illegal and M80 type of “fireworks” are considered explosives, and it is a felony in Kansas to possess, manufacture or use, as well as being extremely dangerous. The use or sale of these banned fireworks and explosives is considered a crime under Kansas law. It is also illegal in Kansas to shoot fireworks on or under any vehicle, on any public roadway, within 50 feet of a fireworks stand or where fireworks are stored, and at gas stations or any place liquid gas – including propane – is stored.

Safe Kids Kansas said always refer to the local ordinances as to whether fireworks are allowed in your area as well as what types.  Some cities or counties have restricted dates/times or types of fireworks that may be sold or discharged.

Safe Kids Kansas noted in addition, out of respect for veterans when it comes to the individual discharge of fireworks, please keep in mind the noise and stress (PTSD) your activities may cause near VA facilities.

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For more information on fireworks safety, visit firemarshal.ks.gov/216/ or SafeKidsKansas.org.



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