14 DAY TRIAL // Blood seems to be thicker than water, as the Robertson family from the hit series “Duck Dynasty” is standing firmly by their patriarch Phil. After A&E suspended Phil from the show following some anti-gay comments he made, the family are now announcing they won't be continuing the reality show without Phil.
The statement of the Robertson family said that “As a family, we cannot imagine the show going forward without our patriarch at the helm. We are in discussions with A&E to see what that means for the future of ‘Duck Dynasty.’”
It goes on to explain and defend Phil’s adamant stance on gay issues, “While some of Phil’s unfiltered comments to the reporter were coarse, his beliefs are grounded in the teachings of the Bible. Phil is a Godly man who follows what the Bible says are the greatest commandments: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart’ and ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ Phil would never incite or encourage hate.”
The family also expresses their disappointment with the TV network's decision to suspend Phil, claiming that he did nothing wrong in expressing his views, something they said is guaranteed to him by the freedom of speech.
Phil Robertson's interview for GQ Magazine has sparked serious debates between gay rights activists and fans of the series. While pro-gay organizations slammed the Robertson patriarch, fans set up an online petition to bring him back to the show.
There have even been some famous people that spoke up for Paul, like former Alaska governor Sarah Palin and Louisiana governor Bobby Jindal, who made a point out of explaining that everyone is entitled to their opinion. “The politically correct crowd is tolerant of all viewpoints, except those they disagree with. I don't agree with quite a bit of stuff I read in magazine interviews or see on TV,” Jindal is quoted as saying.
Meanwhile, “Duck Dynasty” is the highest rated reality TV show ever, something that would definitely impact A&E if the Robertsons decided to set up shop elsewhere.