BrewDog slammed for ‘offensive transphobic' crowdfunding advert

A new petition calling for Scottish beer company BrewDog to pull its "offensive transphobic" crowdfunding advert has reached more than 8,000 signatures.

The company, which describes itself as an ethical beer company "for punks", has a produced a video in which its founders say "don't make us do this" while pretending to be homeless people, then dressing in women's underwear and pretending to be sex workers.

One of the founders then say: "I'd do it, but I'd need a bath afterwards".

The Care2 campaign is calling for BrewDog to pull the campaign, apologise and donate money to charities working for the rights of homeless people, trans women and sex workers.

"We have a history of supporting and championing the LGBT community, and will continue doing so… watch this space."

Care2 campaigner and petition author Beth Granter described the response from BrewDog as disappointing and said it misses the point.

"It shows that they are not listening to the voices of LGBTQ people and sex workers - many of whom have signed the petition against the video - and whom do not feel that the video is 'in the spirit of fun'," she said.

"They are clearly mocking marginalised groups of people and that's just bad business. By saying 'don't make us do this', and 'I'd need a bath afterwards', BrewDog's campaign is at the very least feeding into transphobic and anti-sex worker attitudes.

"Intent is not the point. Plain and simple - BrewDog's campaign is offensive and insulting to trans women and sex workers - and BrewDog needs to apologise and pull the video now."

The video can be viewed on YouTube.

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