Bud Light lost its sales crown to Modelo Especial amid right-wing backlash, report finds

• Bud Light sales dropped 23% in May, according to data from research firm Circana.
• The drop came as the brand faced right-wing backlash over a promotion that featured a trans influencer.
• Mexican lager Modelo Especial was the top-selling beer in the US last month, per the report.

Modelo Especial dethroned embattled Bud Light as the best-selling beer in the US last month, a new report says.

Bud Light sales plunged 23% year-over-year in May to $297.3 million, according to data compiled by consumer-behavior research firm Circana and shared with Insider. Meanwhile, sales of the Mexican lager, which is owned by Constellation Brands, surged 15% to $333.1 million.

Conservative outrage over a March Madness promotion that featured transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney sparked calls for a boycott.

Analysts at JPMorgan recently warned that Bud Light sales could drop as much as 13% this year.

Rounding out the top five in beer sales for May were Michelob Ultra, Coors Light, and Miller Lite, Circana reports.

Anheuser-Busch did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.