Duck Dynasty is an American reality television series on A&E.
It shows the lives of the Robertson family, who became wealthy from their family-operated business, Duck Commander, operated in West Monroe, Louisiana, which makes products for duck hunters, primarily the duck call named Duck Commander. The Robertson men, brothers Phil, Si, and Phil’s sons Jase, Willie, and Jep, are known for their long beards. The business began in a family shed, where Phil Robertson spent 25 years making duck calls from Louisiana cedar trees. His son Willie is now the CEO of the company. The family was previously featured on the series Benelli Presents Duck Commander and its spin-off Buck Commander, which still airs on the Outdoor Channel.
The show has broken several ratings records on both A&E and cable television as a whole; the fourth season premiere drew 11.8 million viewers, the most-watched nonfiction cable telecast in history.
| Duck Dynasty | |
|---|---|
The Robertsons: (left to right) Miss Kay, Phil, Willie, Si, Jase, and Korie
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| Genre | Reality |
| Starring |
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| Narrated by | Willie Robertson |
| Theme music composer | ZZ Top |
| Opening theme | “Sharp Dressed Man“ |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language(s) | English |
| No. of seasons | 4 |
| No. of episodes | 51 + 1 special (List of episodes) |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) |
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| Location(s) | Monroe and West Monroe, Louisiana |
| Running time | 22 to 30 minutes |
| Production company(s) | Gurney Productions |
| Distributor | A+E Networks Lionsgate (DVD) |
| Broadcast | |
| Original channel | A&E |
| Picture format | 480i (SDTV) 1080i (HDTV) |
| Original run | March 21, 2012 (2012-03-21) – present |
(CNN) — Is this man simply expressing his beliefs or spewing bigotry?
Either way, Phil Robertson, the patriarch in A&E’s “Duck Dynasty,” won’t be duck calling on air anytime soon. The network suspended him after he made controversial remarks about gays in a magazine interview.
In the January issue of GQ, Robertson says homosexuality is a sin and puts it in the same category as bestiality and promiscuity.
“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,” he’s quoted as saying.
When asked what he thought was sinful, Robertson replied: “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.”
But homosexuals aren’t alone, Robertson said. “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.”
A&E said it was troubled by Robertson’s statements.
“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,” the network said in a statement Wednesday.
“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.”
In addition to his comments about homosexuality, Robertson also spoke about race and growing up in Louisiana before the civil rights era.
“I never, with my eyes, saw the mistreatment of any black person. Not once,” he told GQ. “Where we lived was all farmers.
(He must have been blind!)
The blacks worked for the farmers. I hoed cotton with them. I’m with the blacks, because we’re white trash. We’re going across the field. … They’re singing and happy. 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,” GQ quoted Robertson as saying.
Outrage and support
The NAACP and the Human Rights Campaign wrote a joint letter to the president of A&E expressing “outrage and deep concern about the recent racist, homophobic, and ill-informed remarks made by Phil Robertson.”
“Mr. Robertson claims that, from what he saw, African Americans were happier under Jim Crow. What he didn’t see were lynching and beatings of black men and women for attempting to vote or simply walking down the street,” the letter states.
“And his offensive claims about gay people fly in the face of science. In fact, it’s important to note that every single leading medical organization in the country has said that there is absolutely nothing wrong with being LGBT — it’s not a choice, and to suggest otherwise is dangerous.”
But by early Thursday morning, more than 19,000 people had signed a change.org petition calling for A&E to bring Robertson back.
“Homosexuals have their convictions and Christians respect them,” the organizer of the petition wrote. “There is a difference between respecting someone rights to exercise free will and imposing on others what we believe. Phil has done nothing more than state what he believes in. Just because homosexuals do not agree, does not mean Mr. Robertson needs to be suspended.”
Similarly, the Facebook page “Bring Back Phil Robertson” had more than 35,000 “likes” by early Thursday morning.
Robertson responded to the brouhaha in a statement late Wednesday.
“I would never treat anyone with disrespect just because they are different from me,” he said. “We are all created by the Almighty and like Him, I love all of humanity.”
“Duck Dynasty” follows a Louisiana bayou family that has “made a fortune on duck calls,” as A&E puts it.
(Try to make it right now, for the good of the show, right? Not working!)
Robertson founded the Duck Commander company, “which sold a line of custom-made duck-hunting calls that quickly became popular among avid hunters for their uncanny accuracy in replicating the sound of a real duck,” the GQ article states. Videos of his family’s duck hunts led to a show on the Outdoor Channel and eventually A&E, the article says.
Season 5 of is set to premiere on January 15.
According to A&E, its fourth season premiere in August drew nearly 12 million viewers to become the No. 1 nonfiction series telecast in cable history.
All credit for these words go to STEVE MARMEL. He posted on Facebook … I feel I can share because it’s “out there” for all to see and because it really expresses my feelings about this issue!!
What will be interesting to me is what happens next. Big “Chick Fil-A Appreciation Day” type event for … him?
Will he be shunned and will their be actual backlash?
**WARNING: Next statement may make you choke if you’re eating or drinking!”
Will Mike Huckabee want to french kiss him now?
The quote via Entertainment Weekly.
“Everything is blurred on what’s right and what’s wrong… 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.”
And if that wasn’t explicit enough, the “Duck Commander” added: “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?”
Yes, I know exactly what you’re saying.
You successfully tucked away your homophobia long enough to be a cultural phenomenon … and you now feel famous enough that you think you can say anything you want, and believe anything you want, and hurt anybody you want because you’re surrounded by people who think every thing that comes out of you is wonderful and correct.
And now you’ve got the attention of people who might not watch your show.
You’re Todd Akin. You’re Paula Deen. You’re the cake shop that won’t make a cake for a gay wedding.
The question that seems to be asked over and over again in various articles is “is it bigotry or expressing his beliefs?”
It’s both. His belief IS bigotry.
And now let’s see how it all falls out.
Source :https://www.facebook.com/TheMarmelPage
HAD TO COME FROM SARAH …. TWO OF A KIND!!
From one ignorant fool .. to another!!
Related articles:
1. http://entertainment.time.com/2013/12/18/duck-dynasty-phil-robertson-suspended/
2. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/12/18/duck-dynasty-phil-robertson-gay_n_4465564.html
4. http://www.aetv.com/duck-dynasty
Duck Dynasty Phil Robertson Suspended by A&E Over Anti Gay Comments #PhilRobertson
Published on Dec 18, 2013
Duck Dynasty Phil Robertson Suspended by A&E Over Anti Gay Comments #PhilRobertson
Pardon the repetition …. it’s worth it!
Not only does “Duck Dynasty” star Phil Robertson fail to understand what it’s like to be gay, but he also thinks homosexuality is a sin comparable to bestiality.
In a shocking new interview with GQ’s Drew Magary, Robertson — the 67-year-old patriarch of the Duck Commander kingdom that earned his Louisiana family a fortune and a hit A&E series — opened up about “modern immorality” and the gay community.
“It seems like, to me, a vagina — as a man — would be more desirable than a man’s anus,” Robertson told GQ. “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.”
“Everything is blurred on what’s right and what’s wrong. Sin becomes fine,” he later added. “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. 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.”
To read the full interview, visit GQ.com.
Robertson was once a substance abuser, but in the 1970s he turned his life over to Jesus, according to the Christian publication, The Southeast Outlook. He has since been a devout Christian and strives to be a scholar of the Bible.
Robertson’s anti-gay comments did not sit well with lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) advocates. GLAAD called his comments some of “the vilest and most extreme” uttered against the LGBT community, “littered with outdated stereotypes and blatant misinformation.”
In a statement obtained by The Huffington Post, GLAAD spokesperson Wilson Cruz said:
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. 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. Phil’s decision to push vile and extreme stereotypes is a stain on A&E and his sponsors who now need to reexamine their ties to someone with such public disdain for LGBT people and families.
Recently, Robertson and his family were named on Barbara Walters’ “Most Fascinating People of 2013” list. He snubbed Walters’ interview to go duck hunting instead.
(There you have it, Barbara. That’s “class”!)
UPDATE at 12:33pm ET: A representative from A&E sent the following statement to The Huffington Post from Phil Roberston in response to the controversy:
“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.”
I am a product of the 60’s too. And very proud of it. I don’t share these beliefs!
Like I said above, I’ve never seen this show and never will.
It’s not my cup of tea.
However, I do take offense to the words that he has used. Needless to say, we live in this country that protects any kind of speech, even if it’s hateful or offending …. REMEMBER THE FIRST AMENDMENT??
To those that like this kind of show and this kind of people, more power to you.
It won’t be something that I will watch, patronize or condone!!
~~Even GOD tweeted his response~~
~~Another one for Sarah Palin, Robertson’s supporter~~
Words that give me hope, from a dear friend:
“Everybody is gifted by our Creator with the sexual orientation our Lord wanted them to have. For Christians and this guy to throw out labels (and more) on homosexuals is wrong and unloving.”
It Is What It Is 