Megyn Kelly is once again at the center of a cultural firestorm—this time targeting Versace for partnering with trans influencer Dylan Mulvaney in a move she calls exploitative and disingenuous.
At a Glance
- Megyn Kelly blasts Versace’s ad campaign featuring Dylan Mulvaney
- Critics say brands are co-opting inclusivity for marketing gain
- Mulvaney previously sparked backlash in Nike and Bud Light ads
- Kelly accuses companies of “insane” pandering disconnected from their base
- Calls for brand boycotts highlight rising demands for authenticity in marketing
Kelly vs. Versace
Versace’s decision to tap Dylan Mulvaney for a promotional campaign has ignited intense backlash from conservative commentators, with Megyn Kelly leading the charge. In a fiery segment covered by Mediaite, Kelly accused the fashion giant of following in the footsteps of Bud Light and Nike—brands she claims are pandering under the guise of inclusivity.
Kelly told her audience, “If there were a woman who looked like that, she couldn’t get an endorsement because they’d say she clearly is unwell.” She went further, branding Versace “our new Bud Lite” in a nod to the 2023 controversy that tanked Bud Light’s sales after its partnership with Mulvaney.
Branding or Bandwagoning?
The ad campaign is the latest in a series of high-profile collaborations for Mulvaney, who gained notoriety on TikTok and has since partnered with brands including Nike, Bud Light, and Ulta. But Kelly argues these decisions aren’t rooted in genuine support. “It’s not inclusion,” she said. “It’s exploitation—of both the brand’s audience and of Mulvaney.”
She criticized the absurdity of putting Mulvaney—a trans woman with no athletic background—in Nike ads for women’s sports bras, calling it “a joke,” as quoted by RedState.
Risky Business for Brands
Conservatives have increasingly voiced skepticism toward major brands embracing progressive identity politics without what they consider authentic engagement. In Kelly’s view, these collaborations are part of a trend where brands signal virtue for clout, only to backpedal when faced with backlash.
Versace has not responded publicly to the criticism, but social media has lit up with both praise and condemnation. While some celebrate the brand’s commitment to representation, others see it as a risky move disconnected from its traditional clientele.
Watch The Megyn Kelly Show segment dissecting the controversy on YouTube: “Versace: The New Bud Lite?”.
Culture Clash in Couture
This isn’t the first time Kelly has targeted Mulvaney or high-end fashion brands. But her latest broadside at Versace underscores a broader culture clash now playing out in marketing departments across industries. The question at the center: is representation about meaning—or about money?
As the dust settles, the message from critics like Kelly remains clear: brands that co-opt social causes without sincerity risk losing both customers and credibility.
