TikTok influencer Dylan Mulvaney, who identifies as a transgender woman, commented on backlash to Bud Light’s sponsorship.
Mulvaney has not addressed criticism of Bud Light’s decision to sponsor the TikTok influencer since revealing the sponsorship at the beginning of the month.
Critics of Mulvaney noted the TikTok influencer had not posted a video to their account since April 7.
"It's day 9,610 of being a human," Mulvaney says in the video, noticeably abstaining from addressing the video with the TikTok influencer's typical "days of being a girl" intro. "I'm gonna try to leave gender out of this since that's how we found ourselves here."
"I've been offline for a few weeks and a lot has been said about me."
The TikTok influencer noted much criticism of Mulvaney has been far from the TikTok influencer's "truth."
"I was hearing my name and I didn't even know who they were talking about," Mulvaney said, referring to criticism of the sponsorship as a "dissociative feeling."
"I decided to take the back seat and just let them tucker themselves out," the TikTok influencer continued. "But then I remembered that nearly 13 million people at some point enjoyed me enough to hit the follow button on these apps."
Mulvaney said the video response was specifically for the TikTok influencer's supporters.
"I'm trying this new thing where I don't pressure myself to share anything before I'm ready and I'm actually sitting with my emotions ... not reacting, waiting to respond," Mulvaney said of the TikTok influencer's absence from the platform. "Shockingly, I can't recommend it more."
The TikTok influencer noted Mulvaney was criticized as a child for being "too feminine" and "over the top."
"Here I am now being called those same things," Mulvaney said, noting Mulvaney's personality was that of a "theater person" and "camp."
Mulvaney continued detailing the TikTok influencer's experience growing up in a conservative family along with being exposed to church as a child.
"I still have my faith, which I am really trying to hold on to right now, but I've always tried to love everyone ... even the people that make it really hard," the TikTok influencer continued, saying it's okay to be frustrated or confused with people. "What I'm struggling to understand is the need to dehumanize and to be cruel ... I don't think that's right."
"Dehumanization has never fixed anything in history ever," Mulvaney said, admitting the TikTok influencer was "nervous" supporters would believe claims of critics. "I'm just gonna go ahead and trust that the people who know me and my heart won't listen to that noise."
Mulvaney said the TikTok influencer was ready to continue making people laugh and learn.
"Going forward, I wanna share parts of myself on here that have nothing to do with my identity," the TikTok influencer said. "I'm hoping those parts will still be exciting to you and will be enough."
The TikTok influencer concluded by saying the "people pleaser" in them has "nearly died."
"There's clearly no way of winning over everyone."
