Boycott Fatigue Is Starting to Plague Consumers

As calls for boycotting companies such as Starbucks, McDonald's, and UFC continue to grow, consumers are now claiming to be plagued by "boycott fatigue."

In August, international beverage giant Anheuser-Busch said the company had seen a sharp decline in U.S. sales and profits, in part due to a conservative-led rejection of Bud Light. After the beer brand partnered with transgender activist Dylan Mulvaney for a promotion in April, Anheuser-Busch said its Q2 revenue had fallen 10.5 percent compared to the same period last year—"primarily due to the volume decline of Bud Light," according to the earnings report.

Boycott calls intensified when Bud Light's parent company Anheuser-Busch and UFC, an American mixed martial arts (MMA) organization, announced a new "multiyear marketing partnership." The news of the deal triggered quick backlash for UFC, with fans saying they would be canceling their membership.

These high-profile boycotts are just two examples of the current wave of consumer backlash that has targeted well-known companies.

Starbucks also saw calls for people to avoid the brand due to a pro-Palestine statement released by worker-led labor union Starbucks Workers United, following the outbreak of war against Hamas.

The union shared a post earlier in October that read "Solidarity with Palestine!" along with an image of a bulldozer "operated by Gaza resistance" tearing down an "Israeli occupation fence." Although taken down quickly, The Washington Free Beacon website captured screen grabs and reported the post.

While Starbucks does not endorse the union and has made it clear that it operates as a separate entity, the post has caused people to stop spending their money on the coffee brand. Some are upset with Starbucks for not supporting its workers and for not denouncing Israel, while others are in support of Israel and are disappointed the post was made in the first place.

McDonald's is also facing calls for a boycott after it began providing free meals to Israeli soldiers. In a series of Instagram posts from early October, McDonald's Israel said it was donating thousands of free meals to Israel Defense Forces soldiers as well as hospitals.

These aren't the only brands on the long list of companies facing bans from consumers. Listerine has faced boycott calls over its LGBTQ+ packaging, and people are unhappy with Burger King due to its continued operations in Russia.

As powerful as these movements look while they are in motion, it seems some people aren't willing to keep up with the often self-imposed bans.

For a ban to work, people have to remain upset and, after a while, the early intensity of the driving emotion often diminishes. Now, a discussion around boycott fatigue has started on X, formerly known as Twitter, with most people disapproving of the concept.

"'Boycott fatigue' less than two weeks without Starbucks, McDonald's and Disney y'all are absolutely crumbling? Seriously?" one person wrote.

"'Boycott fatigue' just say you're greedy and you don't care about anyone in need," posted another.

"'Boycott fatigue' is crazy, just saying! You get mentally drained from not buying stuff?? What a privilege," a third commented.

One X user wrote that people aren't actually experiencing boycott fatigue at all, theorizing that people are "feeling withdrawal from consumerism."

Newsweek reached out to McDonald's, Starbucks, UFC, and Anheuser-Busch for comment via email Monday.