14 DAY TRIAL // GQ Magazine had a sit-down with reality star Phil Robertson and picked his brain on a series of issues. But the one that has drawn the most attention and outrage was the one where Phil spoke outright against gays. Following these remarks, A&E, the TV network that airs “Duck Dynasty,” decided to take him off the show indefinitely.
A straight man himself, the 67-year-old was quoted in the January issue of GQ as saying he found gayness illogical. Quoting from the Bible, the conservative TV star revealed some very strong Christian beliefs, “You put in your article that the Robertson family really believes strongly that if the human race loved each other and they loved God, we would just be better off. We ought to just be repentant, turn to God, and let's get on with it, and everything will turn around.”
He goes on to equate gayness with bestiality and brand it as “sinful.” Gay rights organizations were appalled at this position and immediately reacted strongly, saying that Robertson should be removed from the show.
It didn't take long for A&E to succumb to the public pressure and to have Phil removed from Duck Dynasty immediately. In a statement, the station reveals its position on the matter, “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 TV show Duck Dynasty tells the story of a Louisiana family that made its fortune from a business selling products for duck hunters, primarily duck calls. Starting out in a wooden shed, the business has grown to an impressive degree, making the Robertsons very wealthy.
The men of the Robertson family have become known thanks to their ZZ Top-like beards. The show enjoys incredible popularity, having broken several ratings records on cable television. The fourth season premiere managed an impressive 11.8 million viewers, making it the most watched nonfiction cable telecast in history.