The MAGA crowd is back at it with another boycott, this time targeting Dunkin’ Donuts. It seems like whenever something doesn’t go their way, the go-to response is to call for a boycott. Sometimes these efforts have an impact, but other times they flop entirely.
Why the Boycott?
The controversy started with Rumble, a video-sharing site known for hosting controversial figures like Russell Brand and Alex Jones. Rumble’s CEO, Chris Pavlovski, recently reached out to Inspire Brands (which owns Dunkin’ Donuts) to discuss potential advertising opportunities. Both Dunkin’ Donuts and Inspire Brands declined, saying that Rumble’s content is too “polarizing” and “hateful” for them to consider partnering with the site.
In response, Pavlovski and some of his followers on Rumble have taken issue with Dunkin’ Donuts’ decision. They argue that Rumble is open to all cultures and should not be judged solely on its controversial content. Now, MAGA influencers, like Catturd, are calling for a boycott of Dunkin’ Donuts. There are also claims that Dunkin’ has avoided advertising on X (formerly Twitter), which has angered some of Elon Musk’s supporters.
The Boycott’s Impact
It’s unclear whether this boycott will actually affect Dunkin’ Donuts. Many people online are mocking the MAGA supporters and even pledging to buy from Dunkin’ Donuts as a form of protest against the boycott. There’s a chance this could backfire and end up boosting Dunkin’s sales, similar to the Subway incident in Waunakee, Wisconsin, where a customer was kicked out for an offensive T-shirt, and the backlash led to increased business for the store.
However, boycotts can sometimes be effective, like the Bud Light situation with Dylan Mulvaney last year, where the brand faced significant backlash. In this case, though, it seems unlikely that Dunkin’ Donuts will feel a major impact. Most Dunkin’ customers probably aren’t overly concerned about the company’s advertising decisions or partnerships, so this boycott might not achieve much.
