Budweiser steps up to support Leafs super fan after Molson sues him

Yesterday, a popular Toronto Maple Leafs social media star was been muzzled by Molson, one of the Leafs' biggest sponsors.

Kurtis Stevenson, who goes by the moniker 'Kurtis from Alberta', regularly posts clips to social media of his next-level Leafs fan cave, usually accompanied by a couple chilly brews.

I mean... just look at this set up:

There are super fans and then there's Kurtis from Alberta... the guy is just on another level. His basement is like a Leafs team store!

Yesterday though, Kurtis announced that he will have to take a break from posting content online after Molson, the official beer sponsor of the Leafs, served him with a lawsuit. Molson claims that Kurtis has been using the Leafs' likeness to help promote a beer called 'Nother Beer' which violates trademark law and, as a result, they have served him with a 'cease and desist' order.

He made the announcement in a video that has since been deleted from social media, but thankfully I managed to transcribe the video before it was taken down.

“I got a call today … that I can’t make videos anymore unless I drink the beer of the sponsor of that team,” Kurtis says in his video yesterday.

“The beer company has flagged me, were going to send a ceased-and-desist order, or something, with legal action if I continue.”

“This is crazy, I can’t even drink a certain beer – it’s not even about my beer, I can’t drink any beer other than that beer with a certain team’s logo anywhere in the background,” he says, while looking upset and frustrated.

“I can’t wear a jersey, I can’t wear a helmet or anything unless I drink that certain beer.”

“This is madness” he says. “I’ve done nothing but support this team through and through.

“This is the little guy gets kicked in the teeth again … by all these big corporations and I won’t stand for it, so I’m not going to be bullied into drinking that beer because I’m told I have to. That’s the most ridiculous thing. I’m in the comfort of my own home in my basement doing nothing but celebrating this team.”

While I feel for Stevenson... he's being a tad disingenuous with his re-telling of things. While no one can deny his enthusiasm for his team, the fact is that he partnered with a craft brewery in Edmonton to make beer cans with Leafs-styled graphics and then promoted that beer into copyrighted Leafs footage full of trademarked logos. It's clear that he was trying to create the impression that this brand was actually a licensed product released by the Leafs and/or Molson.

Today though, American beer brand Budweiser showed their support for Stevenson in an Instagram post and a public statement.

"Can't drink that beer," Budweiser Canada posted on an Instagram story that had Stevenson's account tagged. "Make time for hockey, not red tape."

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

"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!"

What's the old saying? Never let a good controversy go to waste?

Budweiser clearly saw a contentious situation brewing (pun intended) and they took advantage with some cheap PR. Not a bad move, honestly.