Miller Brewing Company Issues Apology for Sacrilegious, Homosexuality-Glorifying Poster
The following are excerpts from an October 26, 2007 article appearing on CNSNews.com.
“Miller Brewing Apologizes for ‘Last Supper’ Poster”
By Randy Hall, CNSNews.com – October 26, 2007The Miller Brewing Company issued a formal apology on Friday for any offense caused by the use of its logos on a poster promoting the Folsom Street Fair in San Francisco during late September by replacing Jesus and his disciples in Leonardo Da Vinci’s painting of “The Last Supper” with half-naked homosexual sadomasochists.
In an email statement sent to Cybercast News Service by Senior Manager of Media Relations Julian Green, the company said it “has taken action to ensure that such an incident will not happen again.”
…
As Cybercast News Service previously reported, the poster first drew attention – and criticism – from the conservative group Concerned Women for America on Sept. 25.
“‘Gay’ activists disingenuously call Christians ‘haters’ and ‘homophobes’ for honoring the Bible, but then lash out in this hateful manner toward the very people they accuse,” said Matt Barber, CWA’s policy director for cultural issues, at the time.
Within 24 hours, Miller Brewing Company asked to have its logo removed from the advertisement even though Copper said there was no intention “to be particularly pro-religion or anti-religion with this poster; the image is intended only to be reminiscent of the ‘Last Supper’ painting.”
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Read the entire news article here:
http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewCulture.asp?Page=/Culture/archive/200710/CUL20071026b.html
RELATED INFORMATION:
FPN Flies ‘Hope for Homosexuals’ Over Debauchery at Folsom Street Fair
http://familypolicy.net/us-p-628
Christian Groups Pressure Miller Brewing Company to Stop Funding Debauchery
http://familypolicy.net/ca-p-680
Folsom Street Fair Website — (WARNING: OFFENSIVE AND GRAPHIC MATERIAL)
http://www.folsomstreetfair.com/fair-info.php
Here is the news release from the Miller Brewing Company in which the company apologizes for any “offense caused by the use of Miller brand logos on a poster promoting the Folsom Street Fair…” Click here to view it on Miller’s website.
Miller Apologizes for Folsom Street Poster
MILWAUKEE (October 26, 2007) – Miller Brewing Company today issued a formal apology for the offense caused by the use of Miller brand logos on a poster promoting the Folsom Street Fair in San Francisco. The company said it has taken action to ensure that such an incident will not happen again.
Miller has just completed an exhaustive audit of its marketing procedures for approving local marketing and sales sponsorships, and it is implementing plans to tighten its compliance procedures. The company has received assurances from its local distributor in San Francisco and from Folsom Street Events that future marketing materials and event activities will fully comply with Miller’s marketing policies and procedures.
“We deeply regret that we did not adhere to our own policies with regard to the Folsom Street Fair,” said Miller Senior Vice President Nehl Horton. “We apologize to everyone we offended as a result. We hope people will forgive us for this serious error and have confidence we will not repeat it.”
Miller did not have the opportunity to review or approve the Folsom Street Fair poster, but accepts full accountability for this serious mistake.
“Miller Brewing was never afforded the opportunity to review our Fair poster before it was printed and distributed,” said Andy Copper, Board President of Folsom Street Events. “The approval was made by a third party without Miller’s knowledge and consent.”
Copper also issued an apology on behalf of the organization which distributed the controversial poster.
“I would like to apologize to anyone who felt that the image was disrespectful to their religious beliefs,” said Copper. “No malicious intent was involved.”
In addition to issuing a formal public apology today, Miller sent letters of apology to Catholic Archbishops George H. Niederauer of San Francisco and Timothy M. Dolan of Milwaukee.
“Like all major brewers, Miller seeks to market respectfully to a wide and diverse array of consumers,” Horton concluded. “But when one group actively disrespects another, we cannot support its events and activities.”