Travis Scott, Anheuser-Busch end production of rapper's Cacti spiked seltzer
'Sicko Mode' rapper's deal with Anheuser-Busch ended Nov. 30
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Travis Scott's Cacti seltzer brand is no longer available.
Anheuser-Busch announced on Friday that the "Sicko Mode" rapper's brand of spiked seltzers will no longer be sold in stores.
The brand's Instagram and Twitter accounts have also been shuttered.
"After careful evaluation, we have decided to stop all production and brand development of CACTI Agave Spiked Seltzer. We believe brand fans will understand and respect this decision," an Anheuser-Busch spokesperson tells Fox Business.
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More than 300 lawsuits that have been filed so far in Houston following a massive crowd surge at Astroworld Festival. ((Photo by Erika Goldring/WireImage / Getty Images)
A spokesperson for Scott described the shuttering to FOX Business as a "pause." The spokesperson said it was mutually decided upon by both parties and that the deal expired on Nov. 30. They insist it is not a cancelation or ceasing of an ongoing agreement. The news comes just days after Scott conducted his first sit-down with Charlamagne Tha God about the Astroworld Festival tragedy.
"Travis was clear in his interview that he is not focused on business right now and his priority is helping his community and fans heal. CACTI asked AB Inbev to inform their wholesalers there will not be product at this time," the spokesperson said.
| Ticker | Security | Last | Change | Change % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BUD | ANHEUSER-BUSCH INBEV | 54.14 | +0.34 | +0.63% |
The development comes at a time when hard seltzers are seeing a drop in demand.
Back in September, Boston Beer Co. said in July it had overestimated demand for its hard seltzer brand Truly in anticipation of the summer. At the time, Boston Beer said its outlook for hard seltzers in the second half of 2021 was uncertain and lowered its earnings forecast.
Scott first debuted Cacti in March after teaming up with McDonald’s for his namesake meal — an item that caused ingredient shortages at locations across the country.
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The rapper, also known as Cactus Jack, lent his nickname to the spiked seltzer, which was made with blue agave from Mexico. The drink contained 7% ABV and came in three flavors: pineapple, strawberry and lime. Each can is made with water, cold fermented cane sugar and agave syrup.
Travis Scott previously partnered with McDonald's. (Reuters)
"Finally getting CACTI out into the world and into the hands of fans is a surreal moment for me and the team," Scott said in a statement that coincided with the drink's announcement via a television commercial that aired during Sunday's Grammy Awards. "This has been something I had a strong vision for and have wanted to do for a while. It was important to me to be heavily involved in the entire creative process; from the flavor obviously, to the can design, packaging and the entirety of the brand world we’ve built. I sought to create a beverage brand that was unlike others in the market."
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Hulu recently pulled a documentary about Astroworld from the streaming platform following social media backlash. (Michael Wyke/AP / AP Images)
The news comes a little over one month since the Astroworld festival that left 10 people dead and hundreds more injured after a reported crowd surge. Scott, fellow performer Drake, Apple and Live Nation have since been hit with hundreds of lawsuits accusing the rappers and the companies of negligence.