NFL
This is why Gronk turned down Bud Light: Rob Gronkowski explains why he said no to big beer money
Gronk appeared on the ‘Spittin’ Chicklets’ podcast and told hosts Paul Bissonnette and Ryan Whitney why he didn’t want to be in the beer commercial
Everyone loves Gronk and the former NFL TE made an appearance on the hockey podcast ‘Spittin Chiclets’ and told some great stories from his college and NFL playing days. He revealed he played hockey growing up in Buffalo, but had to choose between basketball and hockey and ended up hanging up the blades.
Gronk answered questions from the Barstool Sports guys about his participation in the LA Bowl, which he sponsors and his thoughts on LIV money for college athletes. He also told some stories about his college days at Arizona University, like when he and his brothers bought a hot tub after pooling all of the money they had in their bank accounts.
Two promotion deals Gronk turned down
Gronkowski went on to mention two deals he turned down over the years that could have made him a lot of money. Motivated by talking to the hockey guys, he said he felt like he could share some “locker room” stories, he discussed a couple of money making opportunities that weren’t right for him when they knocked on his door.
The first one was when he was 23 years old and playing in the NFL. He says he got an offer from a website that said it would pay him his annual salary for appearing in a scene in a steamy movie. “I said no in a second, I was only 23, but I thought it was pretty cool I got offered that,” he said.
The second deal he turned down was over a year ago when Bud Light made him a sweet deal to promote their beer. “I got offered a massive amount, a huge deal, the biggest deal to the first Bud Light commercial since the Bud Light accident and I turned it down because it was too hot and too touchy at the moment,” he said. The ‘Spittin’ Chicklets’ guys asked him to follow up on that decision and what happened. “It was too hot and touchy and I just didn’t feel like dealing with that,” he said. “Peyton Manning ended up taking it.”
Almost two years ago, at the beginning of 2023, Budweiser tried to to make its No. 1 selling beer more inclusive to attract a younger generation of beer drinkers. Bud Light launched an ad campaign with Dylan Mulvaney, a trans TikTok pesonality. The backlash was swift and the boycott managed to damage the company’s profit, which took a hard hit. Bud Light was surpassed by Modelo beer as the No. 1 selling lager in the US. According to some sources, sales dropped as much as 28 percent and the scandal took on a huge political and social dimension.
That was nearly two years ago and although some people still refuse to drink Bud Light, most of the nation’s beer drinkers have forgotten about the whole thing. Despite Gronk not having any regrets about passing on the adult acting role, he sounded like he wasn’t so sure about saying no to Bud Light. “I could have had it. Thinking about it now. When time passes, everything gets swept under the table,” he concluded.
During the interview he mentioned that he has his own podcast with former Patriots’ WR Julian Edelman called ‘Dudes on Dudes.’ We’ll definitely be tuning in to listen to the two former Patriots’ teammates, who definitely have some great stories to tell about their antics on and off the field.
Get your game on! Whether you’re into NFL touchdowns, NBA buzzer-beaters, world-class soccer goals, or MLB home runs, our app has it all. Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more – plus, stay updated on the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.