Kirby Heyborne (Singles Ward, RM, The Best Two Years, Saints and Soldiers) recently acted in a commercial for US brewer Miller. Here’s the video:
Any thoughts?
Kirby Heyborne Beer Commercial
233 thoughts on “Kirby Heyborne Beer Commercial”
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Maybe it was the root-brewski that attracted him there.
In spite of the big freak out many members seem to be having, they forget he is an actor, he took a job and at the end of the day, that’s his choice, not ours.
Sooo Dissapointed. I’m going to have to destroy those pictures of my wife with Kirby now… :-)
And Gordon Jump played a child molester on a very special episode of the sitcom, “Diff’rent Strokes”.
By the way, in Saints and Soldiers, Heyborne portrayed an RAF officer, and was depicted smoking a cigarette. Not much of a hue and cry over that that I can remember.
Is it the fact that he appears to be shilling for Miller Lite that is disturbing?
I agree with someone else that posted on a discussion forum out there in the blue nowhere. They said that an actor portraying a character in a movie we often see as pretend, but in commercials, or advertisements, we see it as endorsements. So, in essence, it’s easier for us to watch a guy like Gordon or Kirby portray characters that are doing things against our beliefs rather than seeing them endorsing something.
I’m not sure that they two things are all that different though. Kirby is acting in the commercial as much as he’s acting when he takes that drag on that cigarette.
2,4, & 5,
I agree, but . . .
I still don’t like it, I still wish he hadn’t done it. My opinion, however, makes no difference. I don’t think he’s gone apostate or anything. He’s an actor, but . . .
I still don’t like it, I still wish he hadn’t done it.
HeidiAnn, is it the same as watching Harry Connick, Jr. portray a creepy serial killer in Copycat? Or hearing Pat Boone sing heavy metal songs “his way”?
Is it that twisting of what we thought represented reality: ie., Heyborne is a good Mormon boy and would never touch a beer, even while acting?
Or is it merely the fact that he’s in a commercial for beer that’s troubling?
I’m still going to wait for this commercial to play during Game 3 of the NBA finals tonight (I remmeber it from Game 1, but didn’t see K.H.) and point him out to my family.
Just don’t take him fishin’ alone. ;)
I think its sad that here is someone that many LDS kids look up too and now he is portraying something that is obviously against their faith – it is sad that he has decided to do this, I hope it doesnt have an effect over a person whose faith is LDS and sees this and decides it ok to “do as kirby does”.
Ryno,
What is he portraying that is against the LDS faith?
Well, he’s playing a person who likes to drink beer, and he not only likes to drink beer, he is travelling across the city to find said beer. Last I heard, beer drinking is against the LDS faith.
Granted, the beer drinking is implied, but what exactly is he going to do with that bottle when he goes inside?
There is nothing in the commercial that indicates Kirby’s character likes to drink beer. For all we know, he likes to go to parties. Even so, his character doesn’t seem any where near as excited as his friend.
No drinking is implied. He doesn’t even open the bottle. For all we know, he is holding it for a friend.
Even if his character does go into the party and drink, which is just conjecture, that would be implying, not portraying.
I think it sounds like a good career move. I would have taken the job, too.
Give the guy a break. Making a career of acting is a real achievement. Besides, beer is one of the few things still Made in the USA. We should thank him for his economic development efforts among the Gentiles!
I have no problem with LDS actors portraying a character as long as the material isn’t R, but promoting beer is an entirely different story. In response to several other comments, Brother Heyborne used stage cigarettes in Saints and Soldiers.
I think you are pushing it a little bit Kim. I think that if you asked 99 out of a hundred people what they think his character was planning on doing after he went inside, they would say that he was going to drink the beer. If Miller wasn’t implying that he was going to drink the beer, then why have the commercial in the first place?
So, maybe Kirby isn’t portraying a character that is drinking beer, he is portraying a character that it is implied that he is going to drink beer.
It’s all semantics anyway. It’s pretty clear that Kirby Heyborne is in a commercial that is advertising beer. If you are fine with that, that’s cool, but I can really see how many members of the church would have a problem with that.
The whole point of the commercial is to portray that beer makes a great party, not that people specifically drink the beer.
So can I. Mormons judge way too much.
Hey, he probably got what he wanted…people are talking about him. Publicity is good for an actor.
I think that’s an artificial distinction. Unless you believe that beer makes a great party by just sitting there on the counter where people can look at it.
doesnt everyone judge way too much? and by making your assumption that “mormons judge way to much” – aren’t you making an judgement? Not all mormons judge people, just like all Americans arent fat, and anyways- Kirby is portraying something that is against the beliefs of many people that are familiar with the type of movies that Kirby acts in, and this recent “career move” is one that goes shows him going against the faith that all pretty much know him by, all that I was saying is that it is sad he chose to go that route.
“I hope it doesnt have an effect over a person whose faith is LDS and sees this and decides it ok to “do as kirby does”.” If that’s the case, maybe it’s time for a real testimony. Grow up people.
I agree with what Owen said. If you have a testimony of the “word of wisom” you aren’t going to go drink a beer because Kirby did it. It’s not like President Monson was is in a beer commercal!
JimD, if the point of the commercial were to show people drinking beer, why did no one drink beer in the commercial?
Technically, yes, since no one should judge at all.
Yes. But my judgement is at least anecdotal (2 years all over Utah, 10 years in Southern Alberta, and various wards in Saskatchewan and BC)and not based on moral superiority.
Agreed, but then again, I didn’t say all do. I made a generalization, but it wasn’t absolute.
No he’s not. Unless you are referring to something that may or may not be implied. Or unless it is against the beliefs of many of his viewers to not attend parties. Which is entirely possible, but it’s not immoral.
It’s not a career move. He hasn’t had any work, his family needs food, and this job came along.
It’s sadder he’s being held under a microscope. Nothing he did would keep his temple recommend away.
Now THAT would be something. President Monson on a bud light commercial.
Actually, this is a who cares for me. Gordon Jump would also drink “purple cows” on WKRP and would look pretty excited about that as well.
Dunno, seems like a whole lot of nothing to me. My kids of course would have no clue who he is. It is not like he is dancing with a few bikini babes or something.
What I think is it that it is no one’s business what he does. He didn’t do anything that threatens his membership, but the fact that everyone seems prepared to judge and condemn him speaks loudly for ‘our’ priorities…which seem to be more about ‘his’ salvation rather than our own.
The huge furor about it is ironic in a way. How many members of the church work at casinos? Or sell alcoholic drinks r cigarettes to people? I don’t see everyone getting in an uproar about them.
I thought people might want to read this interview with Kirby about the commercial.
http://www.mormontimes.com/MITN_entertainment.php?id=1282
I should say also that it always amazes me how members of the church seem to think alcohol, coffee, tea and cigarettes are more important than the other parts of the Word of Wisdom. They aren’t. They are of equal importance, but so many members seem to forget that and think they are following the W of W as they eschew alcohol and coffee, but scarf those donuts and cookies while ignoring vegetables and fresh fruit.
It’s one thing to say “well, that’s none of our business, so I won’t comment publicly”. (But then, if “judging” Kirby [or condemning his conduct–and no, the two are not the same, theologically speaking] really is so very reprehensible, I’m a little baffled as to why you would have written a blog post that you must have known, in some quarters at least, would spur precisely that reaction. Trying to set up a stumbling block for your conservative brethren, are you? ;-) )
It’s entirely another thing to try to justify the behavior by making artificial distinctions such as “well, the commercial is only to get people to buy the beer, not to actually drink the beer.”
At the end of the day, Kirby accepted money from a beer company (well, from a beer company via the advertiser) in order to help it to distribute its product, whose sole purpose is to be ingested. There’s no getting around that. There’s a lot of merit to an “economic duress” defense (I’ve used it myself to justify working on Sundays), but let’s not pretend that the commercial was something other than what it was.
He wrote it to generate discussion (thought that was obvious).
At the end of the day it isn’t our business. Let’s worry about what WE are doing and not what someone else is doing. I am not responsible for Kirby’s salvation and he isn’t responsible for mine. Frankly I have enough in my own life to worry about and work on and anyone who wastes time criticizing him or anyone for that matter, needs to take a good hard look at their own life and when thy become perfect, they can judge. But wait. Jesus IS perfect and I don’t see HIM condemning Kirby!!
And besides that, how many members work in places that sell alcohol? So they do exactly the same thing, but don’t get vilified on the internet for it.
WHO CARES about the commercial? Too many do, obviously.
Do you really think brewers care if people drink their beer? What does it matter to them? They’re just happy if the beer is purchased. Whether some drinks it or pours it down the drain, it’s the same dollar to them.
By that same logic, I guess Mormon violinists shouldn’t play in music festivals sponsored by cigarette manufacturers, and Mormon race car drivers should drive in races sponsored by brewers. I don’t think I am ready to make that claim.
The funny thing is if Kirby were in a Krispy Kreme commercial eating 3 dozen doughnuts, no one would have said a thing. Yet that would have been in direct violation of the Word of Wisdom, whereas picking up a bottle of beer isn’t.
Mary, I agree that Mr. Heyborne’s decision to act in the commercial isn’t my business. You may have noticed that I didn’t start commenting to this thread until Kim seemed to suggest by implication that there’s really nothing wrong with soliciting the purchase of alcohol.
I am under no obligation to remain silent in the face of a public attack on my standards just because a Mormon actor whom we all like has chosen to disregard them in a very public way.
Kim–
To me, it’s a question of the primary motive of the production and the degree to which the actor understands that motive. If one performs in a TV program (or other event with significant entertainment value and whose overall message does not promote immoral behavior) sponsored in part by a brewer, or tobacco company, or whatever–I don’t see any problem with that kind of behavior. Ditto if one genuinely doesn’t understand that the primary motive of the production is the propagation of some objectionable purpose.
But I maintain that your distinction between the purchase and consumption of an item is an artificial one. First, you do not account for the hope of most producers that the consumer will consume the item purchased, develop an affinity for it, and then come back and purchase more of that item.
Second, even barring the first factor, your argument begs the question of why we prohibit the sale of alcohol and tobacco to minors if there is only a minimal link between purchase and consumption. Why do we prohibit the advertising of same in close proximity to school grounds? Why do we adopt dram shop liability for the damages caused by drunk drivers?
As I interpret your argument, there would seem to be no problem with selling pornography or fully automatic assault weapons (no hyperbole here!) to any person, under any circumstances, so long as the primary motive of those items’ producers/sellers is to make a buck rather than ensure the use of those items.
So the question is, where do we draw the line?
Jim
I never said you or anyone should remain silent. I just wonder why Kirby is being dragged through the mud when many other members even more blatantly break the commandments but aren’t tarred with the same brush?
I also still say that alcohol is no more important than other aspects of the Word of Wisdom (and this comes after deep study of the issue) but members still focus on it being more important to abstain from alcohol than to eat healthy (and I have never had any alcohol in my life). The promises in the Word of Wisdom do not just apply to abstaining from alcohol, coffee, tea and cigarettes, but also to KEEPING the admonitions later in Section 89. But members are notorious for ignoring those scriptures almost completely.
How about instead of slamming Kirby for taking an acting job, we target the real culprits, the alcohol manufacturers?
JimD,
Before I comment further, what do you think I am arguing? With your statements “your argument begs the question . . .” and “As I interpret your argument . . .”, I want to ensure you understand what I am arguing before I respond to it. I certainly don’t want to respond to something I am not arguing.
That being said, I will respond to this:
Just because you interpreted that from my comment, does not mean I was implying it.
How is this any different from the Marriotts showing adult films at their hotels?
It’s his job to portray things he doesn’t really do. Get over it.
They don’t, rick. The hotels are independently run.
Yeah right, Kim. But for some reason they can still get a Book of Mormon in every room.
They could opt to make it policy and they choose not to.
Kim, I interpreted your post #17 as saying that the commercial isn’t really encouraging people to drink the beer they buy, so there really isn’t anything wrong with the commercial and there’s nothing wrong with participating in its production.
If I’ve misinterpreted, please set me straight.
Kim, my memory is a bit hazy, but it seems that BCC or T&S had the discussion about Marriott and the upshot (I think) was that Marriott actually has its own subsidiary company that handles providing cable services to Marriott hotels.
Jon W., FYI, the WOW is fairly silent on purple cows, unless you count the calories as excessive to the point that the drinker couldn’t “run and not be weary, and … walk and not faint.”
It’s a grape soda (or grape juice) with an ice cream float, or ice cream mixed in. I don’t think it’s as heinous as you imply.
Re: #36, rick, that’d be easier if the board of directors were all Mormon.
Re: #37, JimD, I never said there isn’t anything wrong with the commercial, nor did I say there’s nothing wrong with participating in its production.
The point of all my comments is that we shouldn’t be judging Kirby for his choice. I mean, after all, where was the uproar when he smoked a cigarette on Saints and Soldiers? It’s one thing to drink a bottle of beer, and quite another to pick up a bottle of beer.
I agree with you, Kim, though for clarity I’d like to define “judging Kirby”.
If you mean “judging” in the scriptural/Elder Oaks sense of saying “Kirby has forfeited his exaltation”, great.
If you mean “judging” in the sense of “Kirby has gone his way, and I wish him well, but it’s not a path I would travel or recommend others travel”–It’s certainly impolitic to bring up his name rather than keeping the discussion in purely hypothetical terms, but I don’t know that the discussion ought to be shut down by invocation of the dreaded “j” word.
I personally think the issue with appearing in a beer commercial (versus smoking a stage cigarette in a war movie) goes back to the “overall message” of the production. I didn’t see Saints and Soldiers, so I can’t comment as to that. But, speaking hypothetically, I don’t see a problem with a Mormon actor playing a nasty character like Thenardier or an abusive pimp in the musical Les Miserables, because clearly the overall message is that those guys are reprehensible and conduct such as theirs should be avoided. With a beer commercial, the overall message is very different. I, at least, would be uncomfortable with appearing in such a production even if the role I was playing were that of a good, teetotaling Mormon boy.
2 news in Salt Lake City is interested in interviewing people about their reaction to Kirby Heyborne acting in a beer commercial. If you would like to comment please call 801-455-1806
I honestly can’t believe that the SLC news is interviewing people on their reaction to this individual acting (doing his Job) in a beer commercial. How ridiculous!! Why do “most” members feel that they are entitled to judge others at all??
Oh wait…I can totally believe it!
I have way too much going on in my own life to worry about what other people are doing.
I find it sad that so many members are such self-righteous idiots and so quick to judge others. Instead of worrying about someone’s career choices, maybe we should be more worried about what we do with our own lives. Anyone trying to judge, condemn, critique, or any other form of examination of this mans character, best bury their heads in their scriptures and spend a little more time on their knees.
The last I checked, the church hasn’t taught that moderate use of alcohol is inherently immoral. Come on, Jesus drank wine, and so did Joseph Smith (even after the Word of Wisdom was revealed).
And some wonder why Mormons have a reputation for being so judgmental …
Why did no one drink beer in the commercial?
No one ever does. I think it’s a restriction on what they will allow in the advertisements in general.
It is no one’s business what he does
Sure it is. An performer’s life is all about the fans and keeping them happy. Mormons are a particularly picky crowd. We all can and do have opinions about who and what we will endorse with our own money. I can’t help but think this will, in the long run, hurt his career if he cares about keeping loyalty of the fans he has had to this point. It’s about image management, and this was a bad move if he wanted to keep LDS folks happy.
It’s just like ‘judging’ a company for what it endorses. You hear people not wanting to patronize this company or that company because of what they do or don’t do or what they do or don’t support. To me, it’s similar with an actor. He is a living business in a sense, his own company. There is nothing out of line with this kind of personal analysis. We all have to decide what people/businesses/causes we are willing to support.
There is a difference, imo, between making judgments about his eternal soul and being disappointed in someone’s choice who chose a career that put him in the public eye, and again, is all about keeping the fans happy. Some won’t care, and some will, and that should matter to an actor, imo.
I’m sympathetic to the need to support a family, but I do think there are other ways he could consider making money than doing something that obviously bugged a lot of people.
re#26 It was still his choice, and not ours.
I suppose I have never fallen into the trap of believing celebrities are out there for my own pleasure, but rather, human beings in their own right.
Really? I thought it was performing. Granted, some probably do it for the fame, but there are many who do it because they love to. Some actors love to act, some singers love to sing, and some ball players love to play ball. Celebrities shouldn’t be guilted in doing whatever their fanbase wants them to.
That’s actually kind of the point. If he stays in LDS cinema, he doesn’t have a career.
It’s one thing to feel disappointment. It’s quite another to go as far as saying the following:
That’s judging.
In light of the Dallin H. Oaks speech I link to below, that seems somewhat questionable.
http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?hideNav=1&locale=0&sourceId=2d0584d4a0a0c010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD
Hm, Kim, I guess I don’t really see it that way, regarding my last statement. It’s a matter of fact that actors can choose other work on the side. And what he did DID bug a lot of people. In the end, his choice on a personal level is between him and God, but I still think that it was a poor choice, a poor business choice if nothing else. And I think it was a poor role model choice for someone who is a youth speaker.
On another topic, thanks for the kind note at my blog. :)