Deseret News | LDS-centric actor's new role may raise a few eyebrows

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LDS-centric actor's new role may raise a few eyebrows

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Beer Commercials = $$$ | 1:34 p.m. June 10, 2008

Look on the bright side--- maybe Kirby's positive influence on Miller Lite will prompt our brethren at Miller Brewing Company to start sponsoring some BYU sporting events.

That's Hollywood! | 3:03 p.m. June 10, 2008

When you start acting in the entertainment industry, to succeed, you have to take chances and pick roles that aren't what you ordinarily do. That's the nature of the business. Maybe you look goofy and get cast in some real tripe in the process (see Jon Heder), but that's just how Hollywood is. It's a bit much to ask that Kirby always plays Singles Ward/The RM characters. (Not like those films were exactly cinematic classics, frankly.)

Hollywood plays by its own set of rules. Kirby's got some judgment calls to make that are more his business than ours. Kirby might be asked to swear for movies, show some skin, or pretend to smoke. That's the world we live in and the entertainment industry our world supports!

Happily, actors have their free agency--we see the results of how most have used theirs. I'll be happy if Kirby declines nudity/sex scenes, excessive/gratuitous violence (2 obvious LDS no-nos), and anything else he personally feels uncomfortable doing. The other stuff: Judge not lest ye be judged.

He's chosen his path. Each of us has to choose ours. In all our paths, choosing compassion and understanding rather than ridicule and sanctimony is best.

Tongue-N-Cheek | 3:46 p.m. June 10, 2008

While we're condemning all of these LDS actors and athletes, let's get down to the nitty gritty. Maybe Kirby Haybourne played some evil role in a high school play and that's what started him on this path to hell. You know, like the wicked pub owner and his wife in Les Mis. I know a kid who played that role. I can't believe his bishop let him go on a mission!

Comments continue below

Perfecting Your Career | 4:17 p.m. June 10, 2008

Aren't we all trying to be perfect. How is Kirby ever going to perfect his acting ability if he doesn't act a part that is not himself. Most people can act a character that is natural, but try and act a character that is different or foreign from your natural character and that's how you tell a good actor. Just want you people to know that, "TV IS NOT REAL LIFE", and one of my favorites, "People who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones".

Anonymous | 4:41 p.m. June 10, 2008

I can't stand the people who bag on mormons and bag on Utah in these blogs. There are many people on here who aren't mormons and aren't from Utah. As for these actors: they make a movie and get lucky because of the uniqueness of their style...then they make the jump thinking they are going to go to Hollywood and make it big in pictures. If they sell out, and compromise their standards, they are left with a flagging career and the impression they left with their "base" that they sold out and they have to live that down for the rest of their lives. It's really sad. There are many in the business who held to their standards and although it was a bumpy trail, have endured.

baron | 4:41 p.m. June 10, 2008

its a good thing that LDS people arent judgemental at all

CO Coug | 5:01 p.m. June 10, 2008

Wow, pretty harsh stuff here. I for one won't judge the guy, I don't know his heart. I work in law enforcement and am active LDS with a Temple Recommend; having said that, there are times when I work on Sundays, use profane language, lie, etc., in undercover roles or during suspect interviews. Not very LDS friendly activity, but it's my profession and to date, my Bishop and my SP have had no problems with it, so who are we to judge this kid? I sure won't, I sometimes squirm during Gospel Doctrine class when I hear people preaching and railing against the EXACT things I do in the course of my duties (I sure don't avoid the appearance of evil sometimes at work). I guess that I just don't feel comfortable judging him, I had many inactive uncles growing up and I never tired to judge them as I just felt that it was none of my business and they were excercising their free agency.

Just my .02

Me | 8:04 p.m. June 10, 2008

Singles Ward was the best!!! So much of it "true."
Everything else was a joke. Actually I have not seen all the movies but most of them and Singles Ward was my fav.

Anonymous | 8:28 p.m. June 10, 2008

Wow! And LDS people are critical of Christians who judge mormonism? Look how you treat yourselves!

I would expect much better from a church who strives for entrance to the Christian community. You have a long way to go my friends, a very long way.

Larry | 10:13 p.m. June 10, 2008

If it was a commercial for Brigham Young's brewery would it be okay?

to anonymous 8:28 & baron | 10:29 p.m. June 10, 2008

And you're still missing the point...still assuming that everyone commenting on here are mormons and from Utah.

NON MO | 10:57 p.m. June 10, 2008

oh man the carnage of this thread is irresistible. can mormons just start drinking beer already? y'all are going to have heart attacks from worrying about everything (including the way mediocre actors run their mediocre careers!?!?). chill out and have a cold one, brothers and sisters.

This is simply | 11:30 p.m. June 10, 2008

a case of profit trumping principle.

Get a life | 11:56 p.m. June 10, 2008

I don't watch movies about mormons by mormons because they are too sugar coated. Maybe now Kirby will make them more realistic. As for all you whinners go to your local church library and check out some churh made videos like Johnny Lingo!

Danielle from Heathen, MS | 8:13 a.m. June 11, 2008

I am once again appalled at the holier-than-thou attitude by Utah LDS. I don't see that in the other states I have lived in within LDS wards. Wow! The man is just working, folks, and as long as he lives his values to God's standards in his personal life and dealings with his brethren, it should be of no consequence to you. Pull the mote from thine own eye, people....

Tejano | 9:57 a.m. June 11, 2008

I hope all of us realize that "It's just acting" can be carried so far. For example, I don't think any would justify sex scenes in porn movies under the guise of "just acting".

But let's get off Kirby's back. Just because he's LDS doesn't mean he must only portray LDS people. There may be some who would choose NOT to play certain roles or who would NOT act in certain movies because of the theme or characterizations, that is their prerogative.

I saw the beer add and laughed to my wife that there would likely be some who were disappointed to see Kirby in such an ad. I couldn't care less.

Sally | 9:06 a.m. June 12, 2008

I'm always so amazed at how hypocritcal "Mormons" can be. You all claim to be Christlike, yet you are so quick to judge others!! Remove the mote from your own eyes! So he did a beer commercial, you don't know his circumstances, but as far as it sounds, he did it to put food on his table so who are you to judge? Recently, a student at BYU realized that there was alcohol in the vanilla extract that is in the vanilla bean ice cream at the creamery. He freaked out and the famous ice cream was threatened to be taken from the creameries!!! So many people in LDS culture take things to the extreme. They shoot themselves in the foot by being so closed minded. Just like when the sculpture "The Kiss" by Rodan was rejected from coming to the Y b/c of nudity. Is there ever going to be a point where LDS culture is getting too ridiculous? Because I think we've reached it.

Bill | 9:12 a.m. June 12, 2008

First of all, I don't think anyone is saying kirby's standing before the Lord is now ruined for that commercial, but for all you people who decry judging kirby for what he did- hey if you get rich by the image you give to the public then you have to live with changing that image and the consequences that go along with it. The dixie chicks were all upset about being judged for what they said about Bush, but they never complained as the gleaned millions of dollars for the counry girl image they first came out with. The public is a fickle freind. Kirby made money for some firesides and church affiliated speaking tours (yes they do pay some people for those) and church movies because of a certain image he gave out which may or may not have been the real him- he chose to change that image a little at least- he will have to live with the consequenses good or bad. The audience didn't change- his image did, and he chose that.

mormon mom | 9:54 p.m. June 16, 2008

To Rich: Actually we know that all juice, fermented or otherwise, wise called wine in Christ's time. And only an idiot would read the Word of Wisdom and then believe that Christ would have disobeyed his own commandment. Of Course he was drinking juice. And if you would read the words of modern prophets, especially James Talmage, you would Know that. You may be a mormon, but you are certainly not a practising one.

mormon girl | 9:59 p.m. June 16, 2008

I think it is rather ridiculous to expect actors only to play good guys in movies. I have no problem with mormon actors playing characters that drink or smoke or even are child molesters. However, being in a beer commercial is not the same thing at all. You are advertising for a destructive and evil product that has done more harm to our society than probably any other single product. I think that Kirby Heyborne should be ashamed of himself. His roles in shows doesn't really bother me as long as he is not doing nude or sex scenes. For Advertising beer, however, for shame Kirby, For shame.

bob | 9:28 p.m. June 25, 2008

I saw an interesting thing yesterday. The guy who brought us "Super-Size" movie is doing a cable show called "30 Days". On this episode a Mormon Mom from Southern California was fed to the lions to live with a gay couple and their four adopted kids for a month. Predictably the take away was the hateful and bigoted Mormon was unable to be truly "Christian" isn't it terrible that she can't express open acceptance and love for such good hearted people engaged in such a noble cause. What commercial do you think the producers bolstered this argument of "Mormon Hypocrisy?" There was Kirby on the hunt for his Miller Light! To my mind cameï¿½ "Conspiring individuals will make good evil and evil good." It was pretty in your face!
All that is required for evil to win is for good people to remain silent (no one enjoys be called bigoted, judgmental, hypocritical or various other discussion killing words by supposedly enlightened people)
I'm embarrassed how effectively we have been silenced from expressing an opinion. You supposedly enlightened and open-minded dupes will answer for what I see as a cowardly approach of painstakingly avoiding the World's scorn.

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