Quick Takes: Employers Have Beliefs, Too

I don't like to have words put into anyone's mouth.  

To that effect, I recently saw this:

The quick takes:

1.)  No one said that was ok.  In fact, most people who support artistic expression openly expressed their opinions that this was absolutely tasteless and ridiculous.

2.)  However, no one ever said that this random group of guys who grew beards so they could better promote their reality television show that it wasn't okay for them to pray.  What the general opinion of those who were okay with the backlash against Phil Robertson's anti-homosexual comments did say was that they a.) didn't like the rude (somewhat homophobic) comments of Duck Dynasty star Phil Robertson during his controversial interview with GQ and b.) when you are a star in the public eye (and your "brand" is owned by someone who places your brand in the public eye), anything you say that is to be viewed/heard by the public is likely to be judged by the public.  If the person who happens to own your brand is not a fan of your personal opinions and feels they do not accurately accept what he or she intends for their network's/company's brand to portray to be judged by said public, you may be fired unless there was a previously-noted agreement that the network/company understood your stance on said issues and had no problem with such.

As such, most people that this graphic is intended to "attack" actually believe per the above example that if their morals dictated such, unless Miley Cyrus had a previous agreement with those representing her and putting forth her songs and image that they acknowledged and accepted that she believed in gyrating against other singers on cable TV, the company or companies representing and marketing her brand would be within their rights to terminate her employment in the event that she did not portray an image cohesive with that cohesive with their desired projection.

Let's don't compare two things that aren't the true concepts at the root of the controversy.  Prayer, as portrayed here, is not under fire.  Portraying an image your employer doesn't condone is.  If Miley's employer is fine with her butt against Robin Thicke's crotch as a part of their brand, that's their prerogative.  Lucky for Miley.

That is why the situation is luck (or lack thereof), not discrimination.