The founders of craft beer chain BrewDog today dismissed claims a promotional video is offensive to the LGBT community.
Thousands of people signed a petition alleging that the brewery's video, entitled Don't Make Us Do This', was offensive and unethical.
The video features BrewDog co-founders James Watt and Martin Dickie appealing for members of the public to become investors to allow them to avoid situations they perceive to be embarrassing.
Examples they give of such situations include them begging for money and dressing up as women and apparently working in the sex industry.
The petition, which called for the businessmen to pull the video accused them of "mocking trans women, sex workers and homeless people", has gained almost 8,000 signatures since the video was published on September 1.
It states: "Sign now to tell BrewDog that they should pull their #DontMakeUsDoThis video, apologise, and give donations to relevant charities.”
But Mr Watt today dismissed the criticism, and promised to work to "champion" the LGBT community in the future.
In a statement to The Drum, he said: "The video we created was to launch the CrowdCube aspect of Equity for Punks and was made in the spirit of fun and sending ourselves up – it’s a shame that some people have taken offence where none was intended.
“We have a history of supporting and championing the LGBT community, and will continue doing so… watch this space.”
BrewDog, which has six branches in London, has previously shown its support for LGBT rights by launching a new beer in protest at Russia's ban on "homosexual propaganda" last year.
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