Beer-chugging Toronto Maple Leafs fan returns after team tried to shut him down
Kurtis Stevenson seems to love beer just as much as he loves the Toronto Maple Leafs.
For the past few years, the hockey superfan — better known by his username, "Kurtis from Alberta" — has built a huge social media following with his memorabilia-packed basement, funny catchphrases, and post-win beer chugs.
But his popular video routine nearly hit a wall this week when he got a call from his "favourite team," hinting at legal action if he continued posting.
The issue? He wasn't drinking the beer of the team sponsor, Molson Coors.
"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," Stevenson 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 after Budweiser stepped in with a clever ad campaign referencing the controversy, Stevenson returned to social media Thursday night with a message for his fans.
Budweiser steps in after Toronto Maple Leafs tried to shut up beer-loving fanhttps://t.co/NsU7MqS5p9
— blogTO (@blogTO) November 7, 2024
"I'll be back soon," he said, wearing a Leafs helmet and jersey in a new video that begins with an image of him in a jail cell.
"Cheers, Leafs Nation," he said, grabbing a can of SYC lager from his personal vending machine. "Go Leafs Go!"
To no one's surprise, Stevenson, who is a finance director by day, proceeded to chug the whole thing.
Update #Leafsforever @syc_brewing pic.twitter.com/P7R8KlebBY
— 🍻Kurtis From Alberta🇨🇦 (@leafguy403) November 8, 2024
Many of the superfan's followers replied to the post with questions about the recent fiasco. Although Stevenson didn't reveal a ton, he confirmed that he plans to keep doing his thing.
Guess we will find out tomorrow night after the leafs beat up the wings lol 🍻🍻🍻🍻
— 🍻Kurtis From Alberta🇨🇦 (@leafguy403) November 8, 2024
And while we don't know exactly what the future holds, we can make an educated guess as to what Stevenson will be up to when the Leafs take on the Detroit Red Wings tonight.
@Leafguy403/X
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