(Courtesy Anheuser-Busch / Wicked Weed Brewing)

Anheuser-Busch InBev has dismissed a brewer at its North Carolina–based Wicked Weed Brewing over social media posts referencing conservative activist Charlie Kirk, according to multiple reports.

The brewer, identified as Alex Weatherhead, said he was terminated after posting commentary on his personal Facebook page in the wake of Kirk’s assassination earlier this month. Weatherhead maintains his posts were critical in tone but did not condone or celebrate violence.

Human resources representatives at Wicked Weed reportedly confronted Weatherhead during a shift, reading excerpts of his posts aloud before informing him he had violated company policy. The brewer was told the posts amounted to “celebrating violence,” a violation of Anheuser-Busch InBev’s workplace guidelines.

Weatherhead disputes that characterization. “My words were taken out of context,” he told Fingers, an industry newsletter that first reported the firing. “I wasn’t calling for violence. I was pointing out hypocrisy and criticizing the response.”

Anheuser-Busch InBev did not respond to requests for comment on the dismissal.

The firing comes amid a wave of disciplinary actions at companies across the U.S. tied to employees’ social media activity after Kirk’s killing. Several workers in industries ranging from education to healthcare have reportedly lost their jobs for online remarks deemed celebratory or insensitive.

Legal experts note that private employers have wide discretion to enforce conduct and social media policies, especially in states with at-will employment laws. While some states extend protections for political expression outside of work, federal law does not.

Weatherhead, who had worked at Wicked Weed since 2020, said he is weighing his options following his dismissal.

###