I’ll start off with a popular story lurking around the media right now. Kirby Heyborne is a very well-known LDS actor. He starred in LDS hits like “Singles Ward”, “RM”, and “The Best Two Years”. I have always enjoyed seeing him in these movies. I think he’s a talented actor. However, many of the LDS faith and even some not of our faith are making a huge hype about his participation in a beer commercial. In it, he waits impatiently while his friend puts his ear to the ground to determine how far away the party is that’s serving beer. I think he has one line that says something like “hurry up man!” As described in this article (http://mormontimes.com/MITN_entertainment.php?id=1282) from the Mormon Times, many in his LDS fan base are appalled at his participation in this commercial. Kirby is getting slammed with hate mail, being ridiculed on numerous blogs, etc. all because many in the LDS community feel this is his way of endorsing beer, which as you know, we are encouraged not to drink.
Here’s my opinion for all that it’s worth. I agree with Kirby in that article. He’s an actor. Actors don’t always have opportunities to play the parts they’d like to. If that is Heavenly Father’s way of blessing him with enough to get his family by for a while, then great for him! As stated in the article, he and his wife did not take this lightly. They prayed about it. Good for him if he feels he made the right choice. It seems to me that sometimes the LDS community does a little too much judging, especially of our fellow members of the church. Is Kirby acting in a beer commercial really the worst of your worries? How many TV shows, movies, and music do we let into our home that endorse things more outwardly and much worse than drinking beer? And yet, I’d venture to say that most of us hardly ever think twice about it. We don’t condemn Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie for playing professional killers in “Mr. & Mrs. Smith”. Nor do many even condemn them for having an affair. And yet many are ready to crucify Kirby for doing what’s best for his family? For those who are livid or are just plain interested about this topic, I’d also recommend reading this article from the Mormon Times (http://mormontimes.com/ME_blogs.php?id=1346). Please realize just how ridiculous you’re being. And Kirby, on the off chance that you’ll ever see this: I think you’re wonderful and I hope you’ll keep up the good work. Thank you for sharing your testimony with me through the movies you’ve made.
