I don’t have a strong facial hair game. It’s quite poor. I’m not proud of it, but those were just the cards I was dealt. Paul Roof, however, is not a man who suffers from the same debilitating circumstances that I do.

Roof is an associate professor at Charleston Southern University in South Carolina. He is also the proud owner of an incredible beard, one that leads him to enter competitions across the nation.

At a competition in New Orleans, Roof’s impeccably styled beard was photographed by a professional photographer, and unbeknownst to him, was subsequently discovered by Holy City Brewing. The brewery, also located in the Charleston area, seemed to have a bit of an infatuation with the image, and it chose to use the photograph on the label for its Chucktown Follicle Brown beer, which is an awfully named beer to say the least.

Roof was fired recently, thanks to the brewery’s use of the image and its promotion of a “non-Christian environment.” In fact, Roof had no idea his imagine was used in the marketing of the beer until he was fired, claiming he gave no one permission to use his photograph. He also stated he never received any form of compensation.

From News 2:

“My image and likeness, which I do not own, that I’ve never received compensation for and it was a surprise for me that it was put on a beer can by Holy City Brewing.”

While both the university’s reaction and the brewery’s decision to use his image without permission are equally fucked up, Roof still managed to have a good perspective on the situation.

“I was told that it was not representative of a Christian environment. And for me a Christian environment entails two things: looking out for other people and forgiveness of others who’ve transgressed you.”

Well said, professor.

[via News 2]

Image via Holy City Brewing