NBA legend Charles Barkley never beats around the bush. The former Phoenix Suns superstar is known for his hard-hitting opinions. This time, the 60-year-old got on a stage to publicly support a $97 billion beer company that took a massive hit in its market value for collaborating with a transgender social media influencer. Over twenty years as the no.1 in the market, the people’s go-to brand conceded a market drop of nearly 25% in just a few days. In an attempt to save the company from further downfall, Barkley not only addressed the collaboration but also took time to extend his support for the LGBTQIA+ community.

On several other occasions, Barkley has been a rebel to go against even millions to support what’s right. However, this time, the NBA analyst had some words of support!

Charles Barkley wins over the crowd with his supportive words

‘Bud Light’, owned by Anheuser-Busch, decided to get creative to promote their brand. Keeping young teens as their target audience, the beer company decided to join hands with Dylan Mulvaney. However, the 26-year-old trans influencer’s impact on the brand was a lot different, as the company faced some severe backlash. 

Ruling the market at the top for over two decades, ‘Bud Light’ got dethroned by a Mexican brand, “Modelo Especial” after the collab. Denver Nuggets star Aaron Gordon was seen celebrating his first ring with some Modelos in the championship parade. 

Watch this story: “Where will Damian Lillard go?”

However, Barkley is not the one to switch. Unbothered by the severe criticism, the basketball legend shared a few harsh words to show his strong support for the LGBTQIA+ community. In an open stage, Barkley shared, “If you’re gay, bless you if you’re trans, bless you. If you have a problem with that, F*** YOU! “

Clearly, the 11-time All-Star did not hold back! But what led to all the controversy?

Trans influencer Dylan Mulvaney escapes the wrath

While Barkley fought for the $97 billion company, Mulvaney decided to take a break from the States. The 26-year-old revealed on her social media she was “no longer feeling safe” and thus decided to spend some time in Peru.

However, social media platforms lately have shown some support for both Mulvaney and Barkley. Especially to the ‘Inside the NBA’ host’s latest speech. However, there is still a long path ahead for both Mulvaney and ‘Bud Light’ to overcome the severe backlash. Importantly, the billion-dollar beer company has a lot of damage control to do in order to regain the top spot. 

Read more: Days After Fueling the Bud Light Controversy, $400 Million Worth Country Music Legend Teams Up With Michael Jordan’s NASCAR Outfit for Nashville

Only time shall let us know! What are your thoughts on Charles Barkley’s support for the LGBTQIA+ community?