Duck Dynasty star upsets loyal fans of the hit show

Melanie Sabol – Copy Editor

Over the course of the last few years the Robertson family has made their ways into 14 million households. The Robertsons make up the A&E Television show “Duck Dynasty,” the show that has made the family run business of Duck Commander boom once filming began. Phil Robertson, 67, the founder of Duck Commander, is the father of four sons (three of whom are on “Duck Dynasty”) and a very religious man.

At the end of every episode of “Duck Dynasty” you will find the entire family gathered around Robertsons’ dining room table with a nondenominational prayer and something that the family is thankful for.

This became a problem when the show aired its first season. Robertson said he would no longer participate in the show unless the prayer was said at the end of the show. His family agreed with him saying, “If he goes, we all go.” The family stuck together and the show continued to air.

Don’t discount Phil Robertson as a man who is just another redneck. Robertson attended Louisiana Tech University where he played football. After turning down the opportunity to go and play with the Washington Redskins, Robertson went on to receive a master’s degree in education and spent several years teaching before starting Duck Commander in 1972.

However, this past January GQ did an article entitled “What the Duck?” covering the Robertson family and how they have become redneck millionaires. GQ goes on to question “How in the world did a family of squirrel-eating, Bible-thumping, catchphrase-spouting duck hunters become the biggest TV stars in America? And what will they do now that they have 14 million fervent disciples? Our Drew Magary toured the Louisiana backwater with Phil Robertson and the ‘Duck Dynasty’ gang to find out.”

Magary goes out with the Robertsons on their vast land and is informed of the involvement and safety that goes into hunting.

It is not long before Robertson is discussing “The Almighty” and his personal views come to light.

Robertson spoke his religious views to Magary by saying, “It seems like, to me, a vagina—as a man—would be more desirable than a man’s anus. That’s just me. 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.”

Not stopping there, Robertson paraphrased Corinthians by saying, “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.”

As one would imagine, this did not go over with the A&E Network. They released a statement right away saying, “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,”’ a network statement issued late Wednesday said. “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.”

Even though Robertson made those comments, he says that he does not discriminate. “We never, ever judge someone on who’s going to heaven, hell. That’s the Almighty’s job,” he told GQ. “We just love ’em, give ’em the good news about Jesus — whether they’re homosexuals, drunks, terrorists. We let God sort ’em out later, you see what I’m saying?”

A&E sent a follow-up statement from Robertson on the inflammatory comments: “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.”

Sarah Palin, former vice presidential candidate, was right there to defend Robertson by saying on her Facebook that, “Free speech is an endangered species.” While on the other hand a member of the U.S. women’s national ice hockey team, Catlin Cahow, is a lesbian and told Today’s Matt Lauer that she was “disappointed” by the comments made.

At the end of the day, A&E reversed the ban on Robertson following the fan protests that defended his right to the freedom of speech.