A college football fan who raised more than $1 million with a joke sign begging for beer money was exposed for writing old racist tweets — forcing his beloved Busch Light to dump him.
Carson King, 24, who became a viral sensation with his sign held up on TV saying “Busch Light Supply Needs Replenished” on Sept. 14 — then promised the money that rolled in to a local kids’ hospital — was revealed have made the offensive posts as a 16-year-old high school sophomore in 2012.
They included one comparing black mothers to gorillas, according to a report by the Des Moines Register.
But on Wednesday, critics of the exposé unearthed offensive tweets published by the Register reporter in 2010 and 2013 — making light of abusing women and mocking same-sex marriage legislation, the Washington Post reported.
Critics of Aaron Calvin’s report asked why the outlet dug so far into the past of an ordinary person who “selflessly” raised money for sick kids.
King quickly apologized, saying he was “embarrassed and stunned” by his “offensive and hurtful” attempts at humor as a teen.
But he was still dropped by Busch Beer, the company that had called him “Carson King, Iowa Legend” on personalized beer cans with pictures of his face as it promised him a year’s supply of brews.
“Carson King had multiple social media posts that do not align with our values as a brand or as a company and we will have no further association with him,” Anheuser-Busch told MarketWatch on Tuesday.
However, Busch stressed that it was still matching donations until the end of the month — with its involvement key in helping King raise more than $1.14 million for the University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital.
“We are honoring our commitment by donating more than $350,000 to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics,” the firm told the publication.
Venmo, which also matched King’s fundraising, did not respond to MarketWatch’s requests for comment.
In his online mea culpa, King noted the irony in social media bringing him viral fame — then causing it to crash down.
“It has the power to bring people together for the common good. It can also make your life very public,” he said, highlighting anti-racism posts he made in the years after his offensive ones.