To beer or not to beer? That is the question. Okay that's not really even the question at all, the question is (or questions are); How far does one go to support ones family? Or, At what point does one cross a line into hypocrisy? And, Isn't McDonalds hiring? I don't really know the right answer to any of these, but lets discuss.
So, here's the lowdown, last week I was at work, clearing a table, headed back to the kitchen when I glanced at the tv and saw a very familiar face in a Miller Lite commercial... Kirby Heyborne of Mormon movie fame ("Singles Ward," "Singles Ward II," etc.) was on the tv screen for a mere 2 seconds, that I caught, sitting at a bar, about to enjoy a beer with his fake commercial friends. I thought, "What!? No way," reminded myself to tell my hubby about it, got back to work and forgot about it. Until I saw on Dragon's (yes, he's still insisting I call him "Dragon") facebook page a post that he too saw what my eyes saw. Only he saw senor Kirby on an airplane about to indulge in a buh buh buh beer! I googled it to find the ad I had seen and came up with three different commercials all staring one in the same... Kirby. "Say it aint so!!" Mormon tweens are screaming across Utah.
Upon careful googling, I discovered that yes, it was indeed theeee Kirby Heyborne, Kirby Heyborne, 'that famous Mormon actor guy,' the self-proclaimed "temple worthy member of the church." Where do we start? Well, not where everyone else in the blogosphere did, tearing him apart doesn't make us any better than we are judging him to be. In fact, I'm not judging at all. I'm here to play devils advocate (fitting and witty at the same time, man, I'm good!) So... a Mormon actor-- and lets remember that word, ACTOR-- plays the role of random party goer/potential beer drinker #1 in a nationally televised commercial. A BEER COMMERCIAL. Oh no!, right? Not really. He's acting. Is there a difference between acting and supporting? I think so, but lets continue with the actor part first. There are actors who play the role of Lucifer in movies, or all the bad guys of The Book of Mormon, is that different? Worse yet, Jim Caviezel straight up played Jesus in Mel Gibsons, "Passion of the Christ." Is it not sacrilegious for one to act as though he or she is Jesus or God? But he wasn't actually pretending to be Jesus, he was just playing a role you say. Hmm, what do you mean? There's a difference? I mean, I see he wasn't walking around trying to convince people he was actually Christ, trying to gain followers, or take worship away from God, but he was pretending to be Jesus, wasn't he? And isn't all Kirby is doing is pretending to be a beer drinker? I don't even think he is portrayed drinking the beer in any of the commercials I saw. One he grabs a beer before entering a party and the other he is on a plane holding a beer being told by his friends how unmanly he is. Never does he even take a swig.
He's acting, making a paycheck to support his family and trying to break his way into main stream movies where he'll likely get a much larger paycheck than what the, small in comparison to blockbuster Hollywood hits, Mormon flicks were able to provide. Now lets switch it up and bring up the difference between acting and supporting. Or acting and endorsing. Kirby Heyborne is an actor. Actors will be asked to play all sorts of roles in their career and make all sorts of career choices, ones they either agree with or disagree with. Ones they either agree with and take on, disagree with and turn down or disagree with and do anyway to get ahead. Now, anyone who thinks he took this role in spite of his beliefs in an attempt to get ahead or make a name for himself in Hollywood, I believe to be a total moron. I doubt the discussion with his manager went anything like this, "Man! Here's your chance to hit it big! This is your chance to get discovered, you gotta take it!" I think the discussion with his wife was a much more important one. He is quoted in several articles I read saying the choice to do this particular set of commercials was something he and his wife didn't take lightly. They discussed it and decided it was something they needed to at the time. The man has bills as any of us do. Kids to feed. What would you do to support your family?
Kirby is not pulling a Sarah McLachlan, *cue sad, sad musical into.* "In the arms of an angel, flyyyyy awaaaaaay from heeeeere...." *cue even sadder, sad almost dead looking street shabby animals* "Hello, I'm Sarah Mclachlan and for only a sixty cents a day you can support these precious animals who are without a home due to overpopulation." *cue sad face looking down at adorably half dead puppy in her arms.* He's not endorsing Miller Lite, saying "Hey, I'm Kirby Heyborne! When you too decide to break the Word of Wisdom, do like I do, choose Miller Lite" *cue BIG gulp, with beer bottle appropriately set to camera, displaying brand logo. Finsish big gulp, cue refreshing "aaaaaah" and big cheesy satisfied thirst-quenched smile.*
I recently bought a shirt for our vacation because I was in need of a comfy cotton shirt I could roll around and get dirty in. It is a men's shirt I found in the sale rack at Target. $2.74, it's grey, slim fitted, uber comfy cotton blend and has a beer logo on the front with a horse head. It's not a popular beer, I suppose popular enough to make it to mainstream Targets sales rack, but I'd never heard of it before, never drank it or sold it in any of the restaurants I worked. I wear it because I like how it fits and looks with khaki shorts, it's comfy casual regular and gives the all american girl look. Should I not have purchased it? Should I maybe not wear it outside of the house around the neighborhood where the youth I teach Sunday School might see? Am I brand endorsing when I wear it? I don't really see it that way when I wear it, I see it as any other graphic tee that has some made up 'BeaverVille Hotel, No Vacancy' on it. I see the difference in drinking beer or encouraging others to drink beer and wearing a beer shirt, just as I see the argument that we each need to stand a witness of our beliefs in all times and in all things and in all places. Meaning we should not hesitate to speak up for what we believe in. Is not speaking up when given the chance to speak considered backing down? If I'm at a family reunion and I'm pretending to drink a mixed drink and pretending to act drunk so my family will never know the difference then I am hiding something. Then I am pretending to be something I am not. Then I am stifling who I am, denying my beliefs and turning my back on God... but I do not believe that is what Kirby has done. He has openly stated he is still a member in good standing in The Church. I don't think he is backing down, I don't think he has brought shame to his name or the institution in which he belongs. He's making a paycheck. Whether I or you agree with it or not does not matter because we are not directly affected by his actions; meaning we are not the ones who have to go without if he doesn't make what he needs to support his family, nor are we even directly affected by what the consequences for said actions may be. Some may say, "Oh I've heard that before, just trying to get by," isn't that what strippers say? Drug dealers? Porn stars? Hookers? What about LDS grocers who sell alcohol, the LDS waiter who rattles off a list of bar specials to get your tab up and get a larger tip? Steve Young who has played football so many Sundays for the past I-don't-know-how-many-years? LDS Police officers who parole the streets keeping you safe into the wee hours of the Seventh Day? Do we expect our military LDS sons, fiances and husbands to lay down arms on Sunday because it is the Lords holy Sabbath; surely the enemy will understand, right? I agree with Tom Grover (knuvforthepeople.com) that we can easily liken these characters to the former. Just as we can remember a time when we were in the shoes of Mr. Heyborne; having, ourselves, done something others may snub their noses at, maybe even something we were confused about, but happy, thankfully that we need only justify our actions to ourselves and one other.
I don't think Kirby has done anything to be ashamed of. I believe it was a rough decision he and his family had to make at the time of accepting the job offer. Lets keep in mind, it was a job offer. He's not being "Kirby Heyborne" suggesting anyone go drink beer. He's playing the part of 5'11" average looking blonde beer drinker. Do we fault him for this? We shouldn't. First of all it's not our place. You want to toss out your old "Sons of Provo" dvd, burn that autographed photo you have of him from the time you saw him at the food court in Provo Towne Center, that's your prerogative. You can filter what you watch, what you eat, what you drink, with whom you associate and all these matters in relation to your own family as well, but if you are one who is offended by Kirby's recent choice then you are one who knows better. You are one who knows mans choice is his God given right, a right Jesus died to allow us.
