A&E has decided to lift its suspension of reality television star Phil Robertson – the 67-year-old patriarch of the smash hit Duck Dynasty.
“After discussions with the Robertson family, as well as consulting with numerous advocacy groups, A&E has decided to resume filming ‘Duck Dynasty’ later this spring with the entire Robertson family,” the network said in a statement.
Robertson was suspended nine days ago for an interview he game to GQ magazine – a conversation in which he offered his unfiltered thoughts on homosexuality, religion and other matters.
“Start with homosexual behavior and just morph out from there. Bestiality, sleeping around with this woman and that woman and that woman and those men,” Robertson told GQ. “Don’t be deceived. Neither the adulterers, the idolaters, the male prostitutes, the homosexual offenders, the greedy, the drunkards, the slanderers, the swindlers—they won’t inherit the kingdom of God. Don’t deceive yourself. It’s not right.”
“It seems like, to me, a vagina – as a man – would be more desirable than a man’s anus. That’s just me,” Robertson continued. “I’m just thinking: There’s more there! She’s got more to offer. I mean, come on, dudes! You know what I’m saying? But hey, sin: It’s not logical, my man. It’s just not logical.”
Robertson went on to say that the only way to avoid eternal damnation was to “put your faith in Jesus coming down in flesh, through a human being, God becoming flesh living on the earth, dying on the cross for the sins of the world, being buried, and being raised from the dead.”
A&E immediately suspended Robertson for expressing views that were “in no way reflect those of A+E Networks, who have always been strong supporters and champions of the LGBT community.”
That decision prompted a flood of criticism – along with threats from Duck Dynasty’s core demographic to boycott the hugely popular show.
A&E is owned by Walt Disney and the Hearst Corporation. Duck Dynasty is easily its most popular show, with a loyal following of more than 14 million viewers per episode.
38 comments
Wow!
What a Surprise!
Yeh Right,probably this was the plan all along.
So it wasn’t about free speech.. it was about money? No wait.. that can’t be right… people were.. it was… shit!
Just as many have said here all along- brilliant marketing on the part of the A&E people. Lure the guy into saying something impolitic, fake some outrage, milk it for a week or two while stealing headlines across every medium, then “relent” and allow the same guy to continue making your organization assloads of cash. Nicely played, boys; nicely played. That’s not conspiracy theory, that’s just Grade A guerilla marketing.
Possibly. I doubt it, but then again it does seem as though the tails tend to do the wagging these days.
That said, in this instance, I really seriously doubt it. Information moves very fast these days. Conservatives me thinks are discovering how to more effectively use social media to effect and affect meaningful change. We’ll see.
Or that…
Nope – A&E played a stupid hand and got hammered on the flop.
Or that! ;-)
You sound like a simple-minded, leftwing conspiracy theorist. Truth is: It is Rare and significant when liberals are scared enough to do the right thing.
The fact that you miss that shows your inability to read the message accurately. The tone deaf, like you (and FITS) are a BIG problem…Your misreading, and pontificating ignorance, is part of the reason we’re in such a mess.
Dude, I know this goes without saying for anyone who regularly reads this site, but you truly are a moron. My friends will be thrilled to learn that I now sound like a left-wing conspiracy theorist! Your bizarre bifurcation of the world into left and right (with absolutely no understanding of any issue that you can’t force into that construct) is even beyond even the standard black-and-white logical fallacy that many folks make. Rock on, though, brother. You provide hours of endless entertainment, whether you’re a real person or not…
Think before you post…or be prepared to get the $#!* kicked out of you, if you are posting just to see you words in cyber-print…
What you said was ignorant, and a cliche on the level of one who just wants to say sometjing, w/o regard to logic or merit..Admit that and move on…I likely helped you for the next time, unless youre’ stupid.
No, your stupid. (fixed that for ya.)
Did he really say “think before you post”?
Oh, I get it. In addition to your primary avocation as a clueless ranting troll with a limited command of the language, you’re (that’s the way it’s spelled, by the way) also a “last word guy.” So reply to this with some vapid pejorative silliness, and I’ll let you head on back to your mother’s basement so your World of Warcraft gang doesn’t think you’ve gone missing on them… Namaste!
Oh crap, Mike. GrandTango ain’ got your back anymore.
What will you do? WHAT WILL YOU DO?
I’ll muddle through, my good man. I’ll muddle through. Stiff upper lip and all that, right?
Absolutely!
Be strong.
Be strong.
Years from now you may realize that you didn’t really need GrandTango’s “help’ anyway…..
I can only pray that are correct, sir.
Give it up dude. Admitting the truth is the only way you’ll grow.
You provide hours of endless entertainment, whether you’re a real person or not…
——
There is a legend in the internets that a perverted genius calling himselves “the General” whose personas inhabit the political community. His sole purpose is to study the underlying mechanics and thought processes of the truly insipid for the purposes of seeding artificial intelligence.
I would not be surprised if GrandTango was one of his experiments and we, his bemused audience.
That’s a little creepy. At least I hope we’re the experimental audience and not part of the “truly insipid!”
That’s exactly what he would have said!
Yes sir
While I agree with some of Robertson’s sentiments and certainly agree with his freedom to say what he wants, I detest his and A&E’s promotion of the redneck stereotype. It’s not an element of southern culture that should be glorified. To think that he is important to Louisiana tourism is sad. Somehow stupid has become cool. Just take this website for example…
“Somehow stupid has become cool. Just take this website for example…”
And yet, here you are.
Yes, you exposed me. As I admitted here several months ago, I can’t resist looking at roadkill and I also occasionally go to the zoo. Besides, I feel obligated to share a little of what I’ve learned since I left SC with those who’ve never been out of the State.
Dude as I write this I’m 8,000 miles from Columbia and most of the frequent posters have more than a few miles under their feet. Try to tone down your superiority complex about 97% – particularly when you’re this clueless.
Does come across a bit “superior”. I’ll work on that.
“Clueless” implies you disagree with my original point. Is that true, or did I just piss you off?
If you don’t get that Duck Dynasty is as much parody as anything else then yes, clueless might still apply. Every adult in the show except Si has at least a college degree and the family were multimillionaires long before A&E showed up – they didn’t inherit the money, they created a business and earned it.
Are they a little over the top? Of course, that’s what makes it fun.
OK, we’ll just have to agree to disagree about the cultural Impact of shows like DD and websites like Fitsnews. Peace. Thank you for your service.
Sounds like you are b!tc#!*g about an entirely different issue.
Yeah, let’s get back to Obama….
The Hate NAZIs like, FITS, the liberals, and Liberal-Tarians…this should scare the H#!! out of you…
An entity that once followed your every order and decree, has told you to F*#k off because success, truth and honesty mean more than your perverted and corrupt religion of Liberalism. Hallelujah!!!!…
He is sssoooooooo cute!!!!
I finally figured out that the Robertson clan wears ready-made duck blinds on their faces.
TBG thinks someone should photoshop a bunch of ducks emerging from their beards (as if they were nests).
Commisioner Gordon, please fire up the ZTAC signal!!
the Walt Disney company is happy, happy, happy to make money off of DD…
There are a couple of others ways to interpret this story.
Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) cannot exist if there isn’t Defamation of Gays and Lesbians. As GLAAD hasn’t been able to find any real defamation they created some. That GLAAD doesn’t have any real defamation it can find should be good news for the homosexual community even though tolerance and understanding are bad for GLAAD.
The other way to look at it is not such good news for homosexuals. GLAAD, unable to find any real defamation pursued this story hoping it would create a backlash against the homosexual community through an uptick in verbal and physical assaults on gays thus justifying its, GLAADS, existence.
It’s a stupid TV show,dumbass.It don’t mean shit,but you sure are into typing out that acronym.Meet me at the K-Mart restroom on Charleston Highway,if you need some help.
The late great,gay,Walt Disney must be rolling over in his cryogenic tank…