Brewery puts women in charge of social media following backlash from 'only wussies ask permission' tweet
A brewery has issued an apology and handed over control of its social media to female members of staff following backlash over a recent tweet that made light of sexual consent and compared drinking a beer to performing oral sex.
The original tweet was posted by the Arrogant Bastard Twitter account on Feb. 28 but has since been deleted following a public outcry.
It read: “My technique that will help wash away the ordinariness of your day (or for a rare few, cap off a day of significance): Put me in your mouth. Make an *Mmm* sound. Swallow. Express appreciation and ask permission to do it again. Hint: Only wussies do the ‘ask permission’ part.”
Followers were quick to call out the tweet.
Hi @StoneBrewing @StoneGreg – I know your @ArrogantBastard branding is supposed to be cheeky/mean/macho, but I am dissapointed and troubled to see this type of joking about consent. pic.twitter.com/GuqXYvpA3r
— Carla Jean Lauter (@beerbabe) February 28, 2018
Arrogant Bastard, which is owned by Stone Brewing’s Arrogant Brewing brand, issued a swift apology acknowledging its lapse in judgment.
Got it folks. I can acknowledge a bad move and see that it was read FAR from intention. I get it. I am on the opposite spectrum from the unintended read. You have my support. Gone.
— Arrogant Bastard (@ArrogantBastard) February 28, 2018
I’m seriously gutted that my intended reference to a beer was linked to a much wider and problematic issue in our society. Again, I get it and appreciate folks pointing out my head was in my ass. It’s out now and I don’t plan on putting it back.
— Arrogant Bastard (@ArrogantBastard) February 28, 2018
No. You’re right. I fucked up. No other way about it. I’m as red as it gets. I couldn’t possibly be more sincere about that. https://t.co/HwaO8GNHE7
— Arrogant Bastard (@ArrogantBastard) February 28, 2018
Some followers responded by suggesting that the company could benefit from a more thoughtful, diverse approach.
Intention doesn't matter. Why wasn't this gut-checked before posting? This is why it's important to have women and diverse voices at the table in beer so this shit gets caught before it goes public.
— Melissa Birch (@mmbirchtree) February 28, 2018
Dude, just admit that you made a sex joke that seriously backfired. You intended to make the reference, it was just a staggeringly bad one that you should have given pause to and thought about it for a bit.
— Robin LeBlanc, from work (@TheThirstyWench) February 28, 2018
Wow. Pretty unacceptable post and unacceptable "apology". That wasn't clever double entendre. That was simply "blow me, I won't take no for an answer". Own up to it and get a new social media manager. https://t.co/hGQKIuLAHV
— Mauricio Balvanera (@maubrowncow) February 28, 2018
Co-founder and executive chairman Greg Koch appears to be taking that criticism to heart, according to a new statement apologizing for “distastefully making light of a very serious issue in today’s society.”
Koch added that, going forward, all tweets will be handled by female employees.
A message from Executive Chairman & co-founder Greg Koch: pic.twitter.com/L4LTKuFZl2
— Arrogant Bastard (@ArrogantBastard) March 2, 2018
Most of the responses to Koch’s statement, however, argue that the company is going too far to appease offended “snowflakes.”
It's to bad you had to write that. Totally unnecessary. It must be difficult stating the obvious and realizing you can't even have a little fun anymore without putting your company at risk due to some ridiculous snowflake response. I love your beer and the orig tweet!
— Peter Richards (@slickMilwaukee) March 2, 2018
No need to apologize. Everyone “offended” was not really offended, they wanted to pile on and make a nothing into something.
— Darrell (@Dduhrell) March 2, 2018
Wait , you apologized for a satirical tweet about drinking beer?
— Michigan Beer Taster (@MIbeertaster) March 2, 2018
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