'Duck Dynasty' Star Phil Robertson Suspended From Show

[Straight Shooter]

“Duck Dynasty” star Phil Robertson has been suspended from the reality program following shocking remarks he made in the latest edition of GQ magazine but conservative pundit Sarah Palin is coming out to defend his right to free speech.

In an interview in the January issue of GQ, the 67-year-old reality television star and darling of the political right equated same-sex relationships with bestiality.

"It seems like, to me, a vagina — as a man — would be more desirable than a man's anus, that's just me," the reality star said.

"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 took his brand of logic even further:

"Start with homosexual behavior and just morph out from there," he explained when asked by GQ's Drew Magary what exactly he considered sinful, "bestiality, sleeping around with this woman and that woman and that woman and those men."

A&E Networks suspended Robertson from 'Duck Dynasty' after the interview was released.

“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&E Networks said in a statement. "His personal views in no way reflect those of A&E Networks, who have always been strong supporters and champions of the LGBT community.”

It also didn't take long for the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation to fire back at the outspoken hunter.

"Phil and his family claim to be Christian, but Phil's lies about an entire community fly in the face of what true Christians believe," GLAAD spokesman Wilson Cruz responded in a statement.

"He clearly knows nothing about gay people or the majority of Louisianans — and Americans — who support legal recognition for loving and committed gay and lesbian couples.

“What’s clear is that such hateful anti-gay comments are unacceptable to fans, viewers, and networks alike,” Cruz said. “By taking quick action and removing Robertson from future filming, A&E has sent a strong message that discrimination is neither a Christian nor an American value.”

http://www.nydailynews.com/entertai...es-homosexuality-bestiality-article-1.1551556

Duck Dynasty is one of my favorite shows on TV. However, A&E is well within their right to suspend him as they don't want to be associated with his opinions. Contrary to what I keep hearing from conservatives, his free speech rights were not violated. For the hundredth time, the 1st Amendment protects you from government censorship, it does not apply to private interactions. This is not censorship

 

[feller469]

Never seen the show. Find it interesting there is so much to-do about a basic cable "reality" show. What is going on in Washington that needs this smokes screen?

 

[ApolloBalboa]

I've never quite understood the appeal of the show myself, so this doesn't really affect me as to figuring out whether or not I should be broken up over him being suspended.

That said, I do find him incredibly ignorant and misguided, but I can't quite tell if he's displaying any kind of malicious intent when saying this. Maybe this situation can be resolved (somewhat) with an apology and some education on his part, who knows?

 

[sean miguel]

http://www.nydailynews.com/entertai...es-homosexuality-bestiality-article-1.1551556

Duck Dynasty is one of my favorite shows on TV. However, A&E is well within their right to suspend him as they don't want to be associated with his opinions. Contrary to what I keep hearing from conservatives, his free speech rights were not violated. For the hundredth time, the 1st Amendment protects you from government censorship, it does not apply to private interactions. This is not censorship

You're right, it's not a free speech issue. But for one moment pretend that Phil Robertson was muslim.

<crickets>

One gay writer's take on the matter:

http://ideas.time.com/2013/12/19/the-duck-dynasty-fiasco-says-more-about-our-bigotry-than-phils/

 

[Straight Shooter]

I've never quite understood the appeal of the show myself, so this doesn't really affect me as to figuring out whether or not I should be broken up over him being suspended.

That said, I do find him incredibly ignorant and misguided, but I can't quite tell if he's displaying any kind of malicious intent when saying this. Maybe this situation can be resolved (somewhat) with an apology and some education on his part, who knows?

People can disagree with the decision to suspend him, maybe they could've reprimanded him some other way. But what you can't disagree about is the fact that A&E has the right to reprimand their employees

 

[darthtexan]

http://www.nydailynews.com/entertai...es-homosexuality-bestiality-article-1.1551556

Duck Dynasty is one of my favorite shows on TV. However, A&E is well within their right to suspend him as they don't want to be associated with his opinions. Contrary to what I keep hearing from conservatives, his free speech rights were not violated. For the hundredth time, the 1st Amendment protects you from government censorship, it does not apply to private interactions. This is not censorship

Ofcourse the 1st Amendment doesnt protect him from getting fired. That's not the point. The point is that it is bad for our society if we're going to get SO offended that people are afraid of getting fired when they make statements that are somewhat contreversial. What he said was not outrageous, and there was nothing wrong with it. He put it in a bit of a salty manner, but his statement was fine. If he had said something along the lines of " God hates fags and they must die" , then that would be grounds for termination. Anti Christian bigotry needs to stop. A & E jumped the gun here and made a mistake. The neo nazi narcissists over at GLAD should get over themselves. The world doesnt revolve around them.

 

[Mayhem]

I can accept that there will always be people who can't accept homosexuality. But this doof, along with so many before him just had to keep going until he got to bestiality. Bestiality, kleptomania, child abuse, the heartbreak of psoriasis....enough is enough. I would have, tacitly been in his corner, in a free speech kind of way, until he invoked the B-word. After that, he was on his own.

 

[ThatRedWing]

Who? From What?

 

[Ace Boobtoucher]

Never watched the show. I rarely watch A&E. And I almost never read GQ. But I really didn't think what he said was "Vile" or hateful. It's hilarious that so many reporters around the country latched onto that fucking tagline and ran with it. It's like Conan's thing about reporters using the same national writing service and hundreds of them will use the exact same line for the exact same topic.

There's another bullshit sacred cow the PC left will use to bully the majority of people who don't give a fuck. If someone tells me something I've said isn't PC I'll make sure I really fucking hammer the point home. Fuck you if you're offended. Go get butthurt somewhere else and let people think what they want.

 

[Straight Shooter]

Ofcourse the 1st Amendment doesnt protect him from getting fired. That's not the point. The point is that it is bad for our society if we're going to get SO offended that people are afraid of getting fired when they make statements that are somewhat contreversial. What he said was not outrageous, and there was nothing wrong with it. He put it in a bit of a salty manner, but his statement was fine. If he had said something along the lines of " God hates fags and they must die" , then that would be grounds for termination. Anti Christian bigotry needs to stop. A & E jumped the gun here and made a mistake. The neo nazi narcissists over at GLAD should get over themselves. The world doesnt revolve around them.

You have the right to say whatever you want in this country, but you don't have the right to say whatever you want and still have a job. In my opinion, what he said about gays wasn't as bad as what he said about black farmers he grew up with in the south. He said, "I never heard one of them, one black person, say, 'I tell you what: These doggone white people'- not a word!... Pre-entitlement, pre-welfare, you say, 'Were they happy?' They were godly; they were happy; no one was singing the blues." It's not racist, but it's a really ignorant statement

 

[Jagger69]

Who? From What?

This.

 

[lurkingdirk]

 

[Little Red Wagon Repairman]

I agree that A&E had the right to suspend Robertson. But, with the loss of money A&E will suffer they need to figure out a way to bring him back. I guess too much reality for a reality show. The drama about the show interests me more than the actual show especially considering I've never seen an episode.

 

[Johan]

Seems like the First Amendment only applies to conservatives, not too liberals...

 

[lurkingdirk]

Not understanding this whole Phil from Duck Dynasty thing. I briefly (not worth a lot of time) looked into it. I respect his right to his opinion, even his right to verbalize it (no matter how ignorant, uneducated, and unchristian it is) BUT it's NOT a first amendment issue! He was not arrested or prosecuted. He was suspended by a high profile media channel who prides itself on it's open-minded and progressive programming, much of which is based on education and learning about a wide range of different ideas. Duck Dynasty itself is not the "norm", thus their interest in it, BUT when you are in the media, you do have to act and speak RESPONSIBLY so it does not turn into a drama filled circus. Kayla works for INDOT (the state) and if anyone there discusses anything about work online, they are terminated. Everyone is welcome to their opinion BUT be real. It's NOT a first amendment issue, It's NOT Obama's fault (LMAO), and it's NOT a political issue! Also, I respect A&E for needing a moment to think through the best way to handle some idiot throwing them into a media nightmare.

 

[Little Red Wagon Repairman]

BUT it's NOT a first amendment issue! He was not arrested or prosecuted.

Right.

 

[Maggie Green]

We put hillbillies on TV to gawk and ridicule them but then are shocked when they behave within their stereotype.

I don't think he's a hateful person. He's just ignorant. Read what he said about blacks being happier under the Jim Crow laws. None of what he has said should shock or surprise anyone. He's a self proclaimed bible thumper from the backwoods in the south.

Obviously this has nothing to do with free speech. He can say what he wants. But that doesn't mean there won't be consequences. Look at Paula Deen.

Also, I hate to refer to him as a celebrity because its embarrassing at what crap people will watch but since he is in the public eye, he better very well know what can happen.

Having said all of this, it was all a great publicity stunt. He has a new book coming out which you can now preorder. Called Phil-osophy. He knew what he was doing, so did A&E. Two days ago, I had no idea of this man's name but now I do and so do millions of others. No money is lost, much more will be made from his book. Probably more people will watch the show now.

There's nano such thing as bad publicity or a coincidence when this kind of thing happens. Just ask Miley Cyrus.

 

[Will E Worm]

A&E made a huge blunder. They will pay for this. People are already boycotting their advertisers and have blocked the station on their cable.

He has the right to say what he wants. I agree, this is a first amendment issue.

"Hillbilly" is a slur. :nono:


They are far from "dumb people from the South."

Willie Robertson – Duck Commander – Net Worth $20 million

Link

Ever since childhood, Robertson and his brothers have been interested in the family business started by their father, Phil Robertson. Willie used his business degree from Harding University to take Duck Commander from a family business to a multi-million dollar empire.
Duck Commander is the company that generated a great portion of the wealth that he has acquired and also generated the interest to start the TV show Duck Dynasty. In 2006, Robertson started another pursuit, the company Buck Commander. This company has also created the Buckmen series of DVDs and the television show Buck Commander Protected by Under Armour on the Outdoor Channel.

Link




“To learn who rules over you, simply find out who you are not allowed to criticize.”- voltaire.

 

[Mayhem]

A&E made a huge blunder. They will pay for this. People are already boycotting their advertisers and have blocked the station on their cable.

He has the right to say what he wants. I agree, this is a first amendment issue.

"Hillbilly" is a slur. :nono:


They are far from "dumb people from the South."

Willie Robertson – Duck Commander – Net Worth $20 million

Link




Link

This is NOT a 1st Amendment issue as anyone with a high school education would be able to tell you. But I wouldn't expect someone who is as anti-American as Will to understand this. Nuance, discretion and definition are tools of the educated, so his confusion is perfectly understandable.

"Hillbilly" is a slur....to other hillbillies. Again, Will's confusion is not hard to fathom.

 

[Will E Worm]

This is NOT a 1st Amendment issue.

"Hillbilly" is a slur....to other hillbillies. Again, Will's confusion is not hard to fathom.

Hillbilly: Used as an insult and racial slur against Whites who live in the country.


Redneck, Hick and Hillbilly are all used as derogatory terms for whites.

Link