'Duck Dynasty' star Phil Robertson suspended over anti-gay comments

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 12/19/13 at 6:42am

Robertson caused controversy with his comments, in which he grouped gays with "drunks" and "terrorists," and said that they won't "inherit the kingdom of God."

Asked what he considered sinful, Robertson told the magazine, "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."

GLAAD excoriated Robertson for the interview, accusing him of pushing "vile and extreme stereotypes."

"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 said. "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."


Quack, Quack - - - You're Outta Here! Updated On: 12/19/13 at 06:42 AM

[JerseyGirl2]

Posted: 12/19/13 at 7:13am

Eh. This shouldn't be a surprise to anyone. I think suspending him just added fuel to the fire. This isn't going to turn any of his fans away. They will rally behind him. A&E should have handled it by saying, "When you have 'reality' TV, it comes with personal opinions. Opinions are like a$$holes, everyone has one and some stink more than others. This a$$hole reeks unlike our own."

[artscallion]

Posted: 12/19/13 at 7:19am

I can't wait for the obligatory chorus of, "what ever happened to freedom of speech?" from people who don't understand the concept of freedom of speech.

[JerseyGirl2]

Posted: 12/19/13 at 7:24am

The "Freedom of Speech" bull has been all over my newsfeed all night.

[best12bars]

Posted: 12/19/13 at 8:11am

I can't believe how many idiots still don't understand that freedom of speech comes with consequences and responsibility for your words. You are free to say whatever you want. That's where the freedom ends. But others are free to say what they want, criticize you, fire your ass for spreading hate, and tell you to jump in a lake.

You're not being censored, you're being held accountable for your words.

[romantico]

Posted: 12/19/13 at 9:53am

A friend of mine posted this in response on his Facebook page and I could not have said it better myself:

"Everyone has a right to say what they believe and this isn't a free speech issue. A&E has no obligation to put him on the air, it's their choice. If they feel a character in one of their shows had injured their brand either by costing them viewers or advertisers, again it's their choice to not put that person on the air. I enjoy this show and I was pretty sure this was his opinion on the matter but I didn't need to hear his overly simplistic and frankly ignorant views."

[D2]

Posted: 12/19/13 at 10:04am

This is the clearest analysis of the situation thus far.

That being said, I still think he's a severe closet case who can't deal with his overwhelming desire for a butt****.


Forward Progressives

Updated On: 12/19/13 at 10:04 AM

[YouWantitWhen????]

Posted: 12/19/13 at 10:07am

^^^^^^

I wish there was a like button.

[ErikJ972]

Posted: 12/19/13 at 10:09am

This is the first time I've ever even heard of Duck Dynasty.

[romantico]

Posted: 12/19/13 at 10:24am

Sarah Palin,the quitter from Alaska, is furious. God,she is a hypocrite!



Wasn't it just a month ago where she was calling on MSNBC to FIRED Martin Bashir because he said something her and her followers did not like? What about his freedom of speech Sarah? Same goes for Alec Baldwin. All these Bigots who are defending this moron seem to forget that NO ONE'S Freedom of Speech is being silenced.Oh, and what was this idiot thinking? Did he really think he could say something so disgusting and vile and that it would not get attention? Are we sure this was not planned or thought out for ratings?

Updated On: 12/19/13 at 10:24 AM

[GlindatheGood22]

Posted: 12/19/13 at 11:24am

Because if there's anyone whose opinion on social justice issues matters, it's hillbilly Dumbledore.

[MrMidwest]

Posted: 12/19/13 at 11:29am

I'm sorry that he's so jealous of how much fun we're all having.

[SonofRobbieJ]

Posted: 12/19/13 at 11:39am

Nothing...and I mean NOTHING...makes me angrier than a reformed sinner. I'm sorry...but just cause you drugged yourself out so hard that you needed to find Jesus not to die doesn't actually give you the right to look at anyone else with anything resembling a judgmental gaze.

[Brian07663NJ]

Posted: 12/19/13 at 11:53am

I just sent the following message to A&E network:

Dear A&E,


It is very unfortunate that Phil Robertson of Duck Dynasty vocalized his thoughts in a public forum.

Although I do support his freedom to have his personal opinions and rights to say what he said...I too have a right to patronize those I agree with therefore it is unfortunate that I will no longer be watching A&E as long as your cable channel continues to broadcast their program - with or without Phil.


It is very disappointing too because for as stupid as I thought Duck Dynasty was...I enjoyed the antics.

I am boycotting your network.


Respectfully,
with my complete name and address.

Email sent to [e-mail]

[Playbilly]

Posted: 12/19/13 at 12:08pm

I liked hillbillies better when they were in Beverly. Hills, that is.

[finebydesign]

Posted: 12/19/13 at 12:28pm

It's so pathetic and embarrassing how reactionary these companies are. Something is fishy here. I understand talent is expected to maintain a morality clause, so I have a very hard time believing this went down the way it's being portrayed.

How is it A&E has the highest rated cable TV show but has no control over their talent? This GQ interview wasn't a TMZ-style surprise attack, it was a highly organized piece.

Something is amiss here.

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 12/19/13 at 12:35pm

I would never impinge on someone's right to express themselves. It is, however, indubitably true that freedom of speech is not equivalent to freedom from repercussions. There are always consequences. It was bad for their bottom line, so they suspended him. They have every right to do that. Based on his views about Jim Crow laws, I doubt his ridiculously ignorant views surprised anybody.

[Wynbish]

Posted: 12/19/13 at 1:09pm

I would never impinge on someone's right to express themselves. It is, however, indubitably true that freedom of speech is not equivalent to freedom from repercussions. There are always consequences...

^ Did you copy from somewhere?




It word-for-word is referenced here hours ago Updated On: 12/19/13 at 01:09 PM

[tazber]

Posted: 12/19/13 at 1:56pm

Bobby Jindal misses the point.

“I don’t agree with quite a bit of stuff I read in magazine interviews or see on TV. In fact, come to think of it, I find a good bit of it offensive,” Jindal said. “But I also acknowledge that this is a free country and everyone is entitled to express their views. In fact, I remember when TV networks believed in the First Amendment. It is a messed up situation when Miley Cyrus gets a laugh, and Phil Robertson gets suspended.”


I remember when people used to be able to evaluate events in proper context rather than creating some false equivalency to make a spurious point.




Link

Updated On: 12/19/13 at 01:56 PM

[Brian07663NJ]

Posted: 12/19/13 at 1:59pm

Taz...wasn't he trying to compare 2 country hicks...Miley and Phil?

or at least 2 hicks from country sticks?

[finebydesign]

Posted: 12/19/13 at 2:00pm

To shut-up Republicans just tell them it's not "free speech" because these are corporations. It's a company doing what a company has the right to do, essentially using it's "free speech."

As far has his right to speech, sure he can say what he wants but I'm sure he breached his contract.

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 12/19/13 at 2:11pm

Wyn,

I didn't copy it, I posted that very early this morning on CNN. I'm flattered he copied me but horrified at some of the things they are saying in that forum. Gross.

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 12/19/13 at 2:18pm

I didn't copy it, I posted that very early this morning on CNN. I'm flattered he copied me but horrified at some of the things they are saying in that forum. Gross.

But that was posted by a Lukas McCormick from Rhode Island. Your profile says you're a female... from New York City... Someone's not tellin the truth!

[tazber]

Posted: 12/19/13 at 2:25pm

Oops! It just keeps getting worse:

"I never, with my eyes, saw the mistreatment of any black person. Not once," the reality star said of growing up in pre-Civil-Rights-era Louisiana. "Where we lived was all farmers. 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!"

Robertson continued, "Pre-entitlement, pre-welfare, you say: Were they happy? They were godly; they were happy; no one was singing the blues.
"dangerous and revisionist"

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 12/19/13 at 2:32pm

HOLY GOD. Like Rick Santorum, that man just needs to STFU. Racist bigots shouldn't get million dollar television contracts. It's a shame so many do.