Who is Dylan Mulvaney? Sean Strickland's AI Pride Month video punching transgender actress sparks controversy

UFC middleweight Sean Strickland has kicked off Pride Month 2026 with a provocative AI-generated video that has rapidly gone viral across social media platforms.

Posted on June 2, the clip shows Strickland in an MMA octagon aggressively striking a digital opponent styled to resemble transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney, complete with a pink dress and feminine features. The video mimics a Bud Light commercial, directly nodding to the brand's 2023 campaign featuring Mulvaney that led to a widespread boycott.


This latest move fits Strickland’s pattern of blunt, unapologetic commentary on gender issues. As one of the most outspoken fighters in the UFC, he has previously criticised transgender participation in sports and corporate LGBTQ+ partnerships.

On June 2, 2026, just as Pride Month began, controversial UFC middleweight Sean Strickland shared an AI-generated video on his Instagram. The roughly 16-second clip shows him inside an MMA cage, brutally punching and kicking a figure designed to resemble Dylan Mulvaney, complete with feminine attire and features, until a referee intervenes. It was styled as a fake Bud Light advertisement, directly referencing Mulvaney's 2023 campaign.

Strickland captioned the post-

"I've yet to see one rainbow flag. We're back!!!" while tagging @budlight. In a follow-up on X, he added: "Say what you want about Trump but June has got far less gay." The video quickly spread via accounts like Collin Rugg, racking up millions of views.


This isn't Strickland's first clash with Mulvaney or Bud Light. The outspoken fighter, a former UFC champion known for raw, unfiltered opinions, has repeatedly criticised transgender issues, calling them a "mental illness" in past rants and vowing to "fix" Bud Light despite UFC's sponsorship ties.

The timing during Pride Month, combined with AI's rising use for satirical (and provocative) content, supercharged the controversy amid upcoming UFC events like Freedom 250.

Social media erupted with polarised takes. Supporters hailed it as classic Strickland trolling and a win against "woke" culture.

One user posted:-

“Based: Sean Strickland posts AI video of himself beating up Dylan Mulvaney for a fake Bud Light Ad.”

Another shared

“Things we love to see... not the violence though, just kicking out the ideologies from young children!!! Nice”

Critics pushed back hard. Progressive voices called it violent and harmful. One commenter wrote-

"People like this are uncomfortable with their own sexuality and use violence as a cover."

“Sean Strickland comes across as a bitter, obsessed mess when it comes to gay people. His nonstop fixation suggests some deep self loathing or unresolved issues. I’m no supporter of trans ideology, but the guy is an idiot and it’s painfully obvious he’s wrestling with his own demons”


“This is horrifying? What’s wrong with you?”

Another user ranted-

“SEan Strickland doesn't know trans women are real women. Transphobic mf”

Dylan Mulvaney, born on December 29, 1996, in San Diego, California, grew up in a conservative Catholic family in Del Mar Heights and Carmel Valley. She realised her gender identity early but faced challenges coming out.

A self-described theatre kid, Mulvaney graduated from the University of Cincinnati's College-Conservatory of Music and landed roles in musical theatre, including a national tour of The Book of Mormon as Elder White before the COVID-19 pandemic halted productions in 2020.

In March 2022, Mulvaney launched her groundbreaking TikTok series "Days of Girlhood," posting daily videos documenting her gender transition with humour, vulnerability, and honesty.

The content resonated widely, amassing nearly 9-11 million followers and hundreds of millions of views. She uses she/they pronouns and has become one of the most visible transgender voices in pop culture.

Her fame led to major brand deals, including the infamous 2023 Bud Light partnership, where she appeared in a sponsored Instagram post celebrating March Madness, styled after Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany's. The collaboration triggered a historic consumer boycott, costing Anheuser-Busch billions in sales and making Mulvaney a polarising figure. She met President Joe Biden in 2022 to discuss transgender rights and has since released a memoir, Paper Doll: Notes from a Late Bloomer, sharing deeper insights into her journey. Despite backlash, Mulvaney continues creating content, acting, and advocating.


The incident amplifies ongoing tensions in combat sports, where UFC balances its gritty image with corporate sponsors like Bud Light. Strickland's absence from recent cards like Freedom 250 hasn't dimmed his influence - his unapologetic persona keeps him relevant.

For Mulvaney, this revives painful memories of the 2023 boycott but underscores her enduring visibility. She has channelled adversity into creative work, including theatre returns and her memoir.

As Pride Month 2026 continues, this early controversy sets a tone for polarised discussions. It reflects a post-2024 election landscape where figures like Strickland feel emboldened, while advocates warn of rising anti-trans rhetoric.


Whether it boosts Strickland's popularity among core fans or invites formal repercussions remains to be seen. One thing is clear: Dylan Mulvaney and Sean Strickland remain central players in America's endless culture wars.