If you’re not aware by now, there’s a meme that’s spread across the world about storming Area 51 to finally free the aliens that the U.S. government has supposedly been hiding from us for decades. It’s a plan that’s destined to fail, and if anyone tries anything near the site, they would be in some huge trouble (both legally and possibly physically).
If you are aware of this meme, then you’re certainly tired of it.
But, as with all cultural phenomena, Bud Light is here to shove it down your throats even more with a well-timed branding stunt that captures the hype around freeing those innocent visitors from beyond the stars.
The company tweeted last week that it “will not be sponsoring the Area 51 raid,” only to quickly turn heel and declare “Screw it. Free Bud Light to any alien that makes it out.”
Screw it. Free Bud Light to any alien that makes it out. https://t.co/AOWOYL3Oyp
— Bud Light (@budlight) July 17, 2019
After a few days, Bud Light teased an alien-themed can design. According to CNN, Bud Light said it would start making those can designs if it reached 51,000 retweets (which seems like a low enough number to assume this was always going to happen).
And, to no one’s surprise, they hit that number and then some.
My aliens after they make it out: pic.twitter.com/DHbwmHMpCL
— Bud Light (@budlight) July 19, 2019
For a while, Bud Light totally changed its Twitter presence, adopting the green and black color scheme over its usual Blue, but has since taken it down.
So, was this just a marketing stunt, or can we expect to see Bud Light release these alien-themed cans the same way these hordes of brave Internet Warriors plan to release the extraterrestrials held in unfair captivity in the desert?
But, in the meantime, for other businesses in and around Rachel, Nev., this Area 51 fever is a great opportunity to cash in on some merchandise for tourists, both terrestrial and otherwise.
