Benjamin Custis
Benjamin Curtis (born 1981), also known as the Dell Dude, was a spokesman for Dell Computers from 2000-2003. As part of a commercial advertising campaign, his character "Steven" popularized the phrase "Dude, you're getting a Dell.". The commercials would usually feature chipper Steven informing prospective buyers of all the perks of owning a Dell, and then when the party was sold on the idea he would close with the catchphrase.
On February 9, 2003, Curtis was arrested for attempting to buy a small bag of marijuana on Manhattan's Lower East Side. The bag having such a small amount, the judge was lenient and told him that his record would be thrown out in a year if there were no further arrests.
In early 2003, the "Dude" ad campaign was dropped in favor of a new set of commercials about three Dell interns. While many claimed that Dell fired Curtis as a result of the arrest, it is more likely that the "Dude, You're Getting a Dell" campaign had run its course, Curtis's celebrity was overshadowing the product, and the catchphrase had become stale.
