Dylan Mulvaney Announces Move to the UK Amid Shifting Gender Law Landscape and Lingering Backlash
From Bud Light to the West End: A Controversial Figure Heads Across the Atlantic
Dylan Mulvaney, the transgender influencer who became a household name following a controversial partnership with Bud Light in 2023, has announced plans to leave the United States permanently and relocate to London.
Speaking with Pink News ahead of his performance in the musical production We Aren’t Kids Anymore at the Savoy Theatre, Mulvaney cited a sense of “kindness” and cultural warmth in the UK as key reasons behind the decision.
“I’m trying to move here permanent,” Mulvaney said. “There’s something about being here that makes me feel like people have been so kind… The theatre culture is amazing, and Percy Pigs are my favorite. So honestly, that makes the move worth it.”
But despite the excitement, the move comes at a time when Britain is tightening its legal stance on gender definitions, raising questions about how welcoming the new home will be.
A Changing Legal Climate in the UK
Only days before Mulvaney’s interview, the UK Supreme Court issued a landmark ruling affirming that the legal term “woman” refers exclusively to biological females, regardless of gender identity or surgical status.
The ruling represents a major setback for trans activists in the UK and could have tangible implications for access to public spaces, legal protections, and healthcare policies.
It’s a contrast that may clash with Mulvaney’s expectations of London as a safe haven.
A Legacy of Controversy: The Bud Light Backlash
Mulvaney’s fame — and notoriety — skyrocketed following the now-infamous partnership with Bud Light, which prompted a massive boycott by conservatives and sent sales plummeting for the Anheuser-Busch brand.
The fallout, which some marketing experts dubbed “the most catastrophic brand misstep in recent memory,” caused Mulvaney to retreat from the public spotlight. He later spent several weeks in Peru to escape what he described as widespread hostility in the U.S.
“It’s a little sad that I had to leave my country to feel safe, but that will get better eventually,” Mulvaney said at the time.
Tensions in London: Protests and Polarization
Though London may appear to be a progressive refuge, recent street protests in the capital suggest a deeper cultural divide. Over the weekend, trans activist groups clashed with police, calling for the hanging of author J.K. Rowling, a longtime critic of gender ideology.
Statues of historical figures like Nelson Mandela and Benjamin Disraeli were vandalized, highlighting the volatility of Britain’s gender discourse.
This creates a complicated environment for high-profile figures like Mulvaney, who may find that acceptance abroad carries its own risks and contradictions.
Mulvaney Joins Celebrity Exodus from U.S.
Mulvaney is not alone. A growing number of left-leaning public figures — including Ellen DeGeneres and Rosie O’Donnell — have recently relocated abroad. DeGeneres now resides in the UK, while O’Donnell has settled in Ireland.
Both cited the return of President Trump to the White House as a central reason for their departures, echoing Mulvaney’s concerns about safety and belonging in post-2024 America.
What Comes Next?
As Dylan Mulvaney takes the stage in London, his transatlantic move will likely reignite fierce debate over celebrity activism, free expression, and the legal limits of identity politics — both in the United States and in his new home.
What remains to be seen is whether the cultural sanctuary he seeks in the UK will hold up under the weight of political and legal reality.
