The Robertson family patriarch has been suspended from their hit reality show in light of remarks he made in an interview with GQ, released yesterday, in which he grouped homosexuality in with bestiality as deviant behavior.
"We are extremely disappointed to have read Phil Robertson's comments in GQ, which are based on his own personal beliefs and are not reflected in the series Duck Dynasty. His personal views in no way reflect those of A+E Networks, who have always been strong supporters and champions of the LGBT community. The network has placed Phil under hiatus from filming indefinitely," A+E Networks said in a statement.
"Everything is blurred on what's right and what's wrong," Phil told GQ. "Sin becomes fine."
"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," he continued, going on to paraphrase Corinthians, from the New Testament.
Phil's son Jep Robertson also told the men's mag: "We're not quite as outspoken as my dad, but I'm definitely in line. If somebody asks, I tell 'em what the Bible says."
GLAAD issued a response to the article, saying, "Phil's lies about an entire community fly in the face of what true Christians believe."
Pre-suspension, but in response to the backlash over his remarks, Phil issued the following statement:
"I myself am a product of the '60s; I centered my life around sex, drugs and rock and roll until I hit rock bottom and accepted Jesus as my Savior. My mission today is to go forth and tell people about why I follow Christ and also what the bible teaches, and part of that teaching is that women and men are meant to be together. However, I would never treat anyone with disrespect just because they are different from me. We are all created by the Almighty and like Him, I love all of humanity. We would all be better off if we loved God and loved each other."The Robertson clan, which includes Phil's brother, Si, and sons, Willie, Jase and Jep, has been enjoying the spotlight since the unlikely success of the A&E reality series about their duck call business.
Though much of the appeal of the show — which drew a network record 11.8 million viewers for its fourth season premiere — surrounds their goofy antics, the Robertsons have been up front about using their fame as a soapbox for their religious beliefs and political conservatism.
The family hit the Christian speaking circuit over the summer. Evangelist Rick Warren's church even hosted a "Ducky Dynasty" day in July. Willie Robertson also revealed on Fox News a month later that GOP leaders had been courting him for a political run, based on the clan's emphasis on family values.
"We're Bible-thumpers who just happened to end up on television," Phil Robertson told GQ.
Palin came to Robertson's defense Wednesday, posting a photo of herself with the 'Duck Dynasty' crew on Facebook.
"Free speech is an endangered species," Palin captioned the picture. "Those 'intolerants' hatin’ and taking on the Duck Dynasty patriarch for voicing his personal opinion are taking on all of us."
Duck Dynasty's fifth season is currently set to premiere on Jan. 15.
Time has a good article.
