Busch Beer cuts ties with Iowa student after old social media posts resurface

(KMOX) — Carson King helped raise over $1 million for the University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital after his joke asking for beer money went viral.

Anheuser-Busch jumped in with the offer to match the Iowa State fan's donation, even honoring him with his face on cans of Busch Light.

But after a reporter for the Des Moines Register uncovered offensive social media posts made by King eight years ago, the brewer said they are now cutting ties, noting the messages "do not align with our values as a brand or as a company."

The Register reports: "A routine background check of King's social media revealed two racist jokes, one comparing black mothers to gorillas and another making light of black people killed in the holocaust. The joke tweets date back to 2012, when King was a 16-year-old high school student."

According to the Des Moines CBS affiliate KCCI, Anheuser-Busch said in a statement, “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. We are honoring our commitment by donating more than $350,000 to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.”

King held a press conference on Tuesday, saying he was quoting the TV show Tosh.0 as a high school sophomore. 

Carson King just finished up addressing the media after a racially charged tweet of his from 2011 surfaced. Details tonight and whether or not he plans to continue raising funds for @UIchildrens at 10 @WHOhd attached is a prepared statement. pic.twitter.com/G9uBekYScP

— Justin Surrency (@JustinSurrency) September 25, 2019

The Des Moines Register has been nothing but kind in all of their coverage, and I appreciate the reporter pointing out the post to me. I want everyone to understand that this was my decision to publicly address the posts and apologize. I believe that is the right thing to do.

— Carson King (@CarsonKing2) September 25, 2019

Busch announced, however, the company will still keep its donation pledge.

To reaffirm, we stand by our commitment to match the donations raised through the end of the month for the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics

— Busch Beer (@BuschBeer) September 25, 2019

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