14 DAY TRIAL // Although people were quick to defend Phil Robertson when he was excluded briefly from the show following his anti-gay comments, it seems they weren't that quick to tune in and watch his series.
“Duck Dynasty” has made its return to the screen on A&E for its fifth season, but the show has registered its lowest ratings in two seasons.
Prior to the scandal, it was considered one of the most watched cable reality shows in American history, but now it managed only 8.5 million viewers. While still impressive numbers, these don't compare to previous seasons. A 28% drop in audience numbers has been estimated.
This definitely comes as a surprise to all the people involved in the TV industry. There were even petitions set up and signed by many people, calling out A&E to reinstate Phil on the show. They eventually caved in, but it was only because they hoped the show's popularity would increase.
One reason behind this drop could be the fact that, after the scandal, the producers and the Robertson clan refrained from giving any promotional interviews.