LeBron James Calls Out Local Brewing Company for Exploiting Him to Promote Beer

LeBron James wasn't having it with a local brewing company that tried to use his likeness to promote their beer.

Photo Removed
Complex Original

Blank pixel used during image takedowns

Photo Removed

On Monday night, during the third quarter of Cleveland's Game 1 win over the Raptors in the Conference Semifinals, LeBron James was fouled as he was driving to the hoop. After his shot attempt bounced off the rim he had a dramatic reaction that culminated with him pretending to sip a beer before handing it back to the woman he snatched it from:

All in all, the sequence took like five seconds, but that didn't stop the company who made the beer (the Cleveland based Great Lakes Brewing Co.) from trying to milk that five seconds for some serious profit. Just a day after LeBron's stunt (or whatever the hell you want to call it) Great Lakes tweeted a cardboard cutout of him holding the company's Dortmunder Gold lager.

Not shockingly, the tweet has since been deleted:

A tweet from Great Lakes Brewing trying to capitalize off LeBron holding their bottle.

Another tweet, which has also since been deleted, said "G.O.A.T. with the G.O.L.D."

Now, according to Cleveland.com, James and his associates are considering legal action against Great Lakes Brewing over the usage of his likeness. Cleveland.com further adds that LeBron's motivations appear to be personal in addition to professional. That's because when LeBron left Cleveland to go to Miami back in 2010, Great Lakes sold a beer called "Quitness," which was described as a "dry hopped India pale ale that leaves a bitter aftertaste, perfectly describing the mood of Cleveland sports fans these days."

After learning about the promotional stunt, LeBron made it pretty damn clear where he stands. "This is about the last thing I'm trying to worry about right now, my agent and my legal team will take care of it, but yeah I know (Great Lakes) is trying to benefit off of me," he said. "And I heard they were the same company that made all those 'Quitness' beers, and now they're trying to benefit off me this way? Yeah, it's pretty funny."

To further complicate matters, active NBA players aren't allowed to endorse alcohol brands. According to ESPN, tensions were calmed after Great Lakes deleted the pair of tweets.

In case you're wondering (like I was) sources near James said that the type of advertising the local brewers used would cost at least $2 million.

Actually sounds kind of cheap after hearing about the sum that crazy ass verdict ordered Dominick's to pay Michael Jordan.

Latest in Sports