Budweiser Canada has come to the defense of a Toronto Maple Leafs fanafter he was told to stop posting videos that didn’t feature the team’s beer sponsor. Kurtis Stevenson, known as “Kurtis from Alberta,” is popular for sharing videos of himself drinking beer in his Leafs-themed home while wearing hockey gear.
However, the Toronto Maple Leafs, who are partnered with Molson Coors, flagged his videos because they didn’t feature their sponsor’s beer. Stevenson shared his frustration online, saying he was told to only post videos with Molson Coors products.
“My heart and spirit broke today,” Stevenson wrote. “Unfortunately I have essentially been forced to shut down my social media or change who I am.”
He also claimed that he was threatened with legal action if he didn’t comply.
“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.”
In response, Budweiser Canada stepped in to support Stevenson. They posted on Instagram, tagging Kurtis and saying, “Can’t drink that beer.” The post read,
“Can’t drink that beer. “Make time for hockey, not red tape.”
This message was a clear statement supporting Stevenson and his right to enjoy hockey without corporate restrictions. A Budweiser spokesperson explained that the company stands for bringing people together over hockey.
“Championing friendship and bringing buds together over hockey is rooted in Budweiser’s DNA,” the spokesperson said.
They added that they wanted to encourage Stevenson to keep enjoying the sport without interference.
Toronto Maple Leafs’ strong performance without Auston Matthews: 36-19-2 record and defensive dominance
The Toronto Maple Leafs have a 36-19-2 record without Auston Matthews, including a playoff sweep against the Bruins.
Despite missing their star, the team has performed well defensively. In 57 games Matthews has missed, the Leafs have allowed just 2.3 goals per game and earned 11 shutouts. In their recent 4-0 win over Boston, Anthony Stolarz posted a shutout, and the team limited Boston’s scoring chances.
Max Domi filled in for Matthews on the top line, playing a key role in limiting Boston’s top players, but his absence shows just how crucial he remains to their success.
