Budweiser steps in after Toronto Maple Leafs tried to shut up beer-loving fan

Budweiser has pounced after a diehard Toronto Maple Leafs fan was told to stop posting videos unless they featured beer from the team sponsor.

Kurtis Stevenson, who goes by the handle “Kurtis from Alberta” on social media, said he was threatened with legal action on Tuesday. The Maple Leafs fan is famous for crushing beers in his Leafs-themed house while decked out in hockey gear.

The problem? The Maple Leafs have a long-standing partnership with Molson Coors, and the powers that be didn’t like Kurtis posting videos with his beer of choice.

“I can’t make videos anymore unless I drink the beer of the sponsor of that team because the beer company has flagged me and was going to send a cease-and-desist order with legal action if I continued,” Kurtis said. “I won’t be bullied. This is crazy. I can’t drink any beer without a certain team’s logo anywhere in the background, I can’t wear a jersey, I can’t wear a helmet, I can’t do anything.”

A day later, Budweiser Canada has put its support behind the Leafs superfan in the form of some brilliant social-media marketing.

“Can’t drink that beer,” Budweiser Canada posted on an Instagram story that had @kurtisfromalberta tagged. “Make time for hockey, not red tape.”

@budweisercanada

“When it comes to celebrating your favourite sports team, there should be no red tape,” a Budweiser Canada spokesperson told us.

“Championing friendship and bringing buds together over hockey is rooted in Budweiser’s DNA. That’s why @budweisercanada shared this social post, to show its support for an iconic Canadian bud @kurtisfromalberta and encourage him to make time for hockey, not red tape. Join us in rallying behind Kurtis to celebrate his team how he wants.”

“Budweiser is currently encouraging buds to make time for hockey, not excuses, calling on Canadians to stop bailing on their buds and make time for hockey. Let’s go Kurtis!”