Duck Dynasty

pammyxjean · December 2013

https://abcnews.go.com/blogs/entertainment/2013/12/should-ae-have-suspended-duck-dynastys-phil-robertson-for-anti-gay-comments/

I want to hear your opinions on Mr. Phil getting thrown out of the show. Please read what he said to GQ before you jump to conclusions. (: I just love reading what you ladies write!!! (: READY ….go.

He responds saying

"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."

netsirk2013 · December 2013

He has every right to speak his mind. A&E may have cut him but someone else will pick him up. He could have said worse and all he did was talk about what he believed.

starlight0412 · December 2013

They asked his opinion. He gave it. Then he got fired. Not fair. Who cares if you agree or disagree with what he said. It was his opinion. And are we really surprised that he feels the way he does??? (In my best SNL Seth Meyers voice) I mean Really??

The real question: Why does Duck Dynasty still exist?

mcvgal · December 2013

It's not like the public and A&E didn't already know where he stood in his beliefs

pammyxjean · December 2013

https://www.eonline.com/news/492342/phil-robertson-suspended-from-duck-dynasty-over-anti-gay-comments READ THIS, he responds to being suspended.

tealowl · December 2013

I promote kindness in my house. What he said wasn't kind. So, we wouldn't watch the show. We never have anyway.

That's all really...

lindslalala · December 2013

I don't watch the show, but my 1st impression of these guys isn't that of they are ultra conservative, backwoods hillbillys. If anyone thought they supported gay marriage and a woman's right to an abortion, then they are seriously out of touch. I am truly disgusted by the people on FB reposting "I stand with Phil" pics. Really?? You stand with a hateful bigot who thinks homosexuality leads to bestiality? GTFO my Facebook.

katnipeverclean · December 2013

I think the whole circus is ridiculous.

RichLab · December 2013

i was waiting for this! i think he has the right to speak out. I am a HUGE supporter of rights for ALL. I think that if any community wants their rights to berespected and valued, they TOO need to value and respect other's rights. He was asked a question, he answered what he thought, felt was right, so now we have to hush him cos we didn't like it? Imagine if our moderator went around deleting posts she didn't like, WHAT?!?! ridic.

AutumnBonfire · December 2013

I'll admit that I watch this show and its pretty clear they are very religious and conservative (which I'm not). The more they give interviews, the less I want to keep watching. I thought I read somewhere else that he admitted to cheating on his wife before he "found Jesus." So, he's just another hypocrite. I think his opinion is completely disgusting, but I'm not surprised. I am surprised A&E suspended him. That show is their cash cow right now (even if it is totally fake) and I'm sure they're fan base is in an uproar.

I do think he should have been suspended though. We don't need hate and intolerance broadcast publicly. I just don't interpret our right to free speech as meaning we can say whatever horrible, hateful thing we want without considering the consequences. Although, anyone interviewing him on his beliefs ought to be able to predict what he's going to say. GQ is just stirring up controversy.

BP607 · December 2013

I agree I don't know why people are shocked these were their beliefs..I'm serious so sick of these people and I hope this is the thing that gets them off the map...I don't understand why people are so obsessed with them and the amount of products and companies that are using them as spokespeople is just out of control.

HokieLaw · December 2013

Honestly, although I don't agree with what he said, I couldn't care less. I did not believe that A&E had that belief when he said it because he was asked his opinion. (As they say opinions are like assholes, everybody has one).

I've watched the show (my husband loves it) and I would've honestly been surprised if he had said something different than what he said. That's who he is. And A&E is wrong in telling him he can't say what he believes when asked a direct question about those beliefs. GQ knew what his answer would be - at least, they knew generally what he would say - and they asked it anyway. If A&E didn't want him to give his views publicly they should've told GQ that those questions were off limits.

jensavicci · December 2013

I think he has a right to say what he felt. After all, that is what America was based on right? But I also think that the producers of the show (or whoever got rid of him) had the right to throw him off. The producer might have his own personal beliefs and he doesn't want opposing beliefs said on or around his show representing him or his network. I am bisexual and in a lesbian marriage. I can accept that there are ppl who don't like my lifestyle decision. Haters gonna hate. But you may not be a part of my life if that's how you feel. I won't have that kind of attitude around my friends or family and I definitely won't let it reflect on me. Whoever kicked him off had that same right.

Maybebaby7575 · December 2013

Everyone bitching that he is entitled to his opinion and therefore should not have been suspended is totally missing the fact that he was acting as a representative of the show and the A&E brand. If you were giving an interview as a representative of your employer and you started spouting off your own hateful beliefs you better believe your employer would take action, as per any non-discrimination policies they have (and you signed in HR).

Katieluc106 · December 2013

Him being fired is a direct violation of his right to freedom of speech. I think it's wrong and stand by him.

hgtvmom · December 2013

Here's what I love about America: you are free to your own opinions, unless they differ with my own.

I can't imagine that anyone would be surprised by his opinion. They do nothing on the show or in the media in general to hide the fact that they are Christians in the south. If A&E really expected them to not state their opinions based on their religion, that's pretty dumb. Why would the alienate part of the viewing audience by making their faith part of the show, then quiet their religious beliefs in other venues? They are who they are and that is how A&E hired them.

alygoo615 · December 2013

Regardless of what you think of what he said, he had a right to say it. That's one of perks of living in a country where you have the freedom of speech. With that said, the producers also had the same right to suspend him from the show- regardless of whether you agree with it or not. You can be fired for much less from a TV show.

cyndelgrace · December 2013

I live around enough people like this, I have never even considered watching the show. I do believe the network has the right to fire him, just as he has the right to spew hate. I'll be happy when there is no Duck Dynasty left to have controversy over. My mom, apparently, bought my husband a game based on this show!?! You should have seen his face when she said she gifted it to someone else, somewhere between disgust, relief and confusion. Her excuse was that the lady at the store said that it was extremely popular with guys in their late 20s. UGH.

redhotmama7 · December 2013

I watch the show and I love it. Phil has threatened to take down/ or leave the show before when A&E wouldn't allow him to share his beliefs on God when it's in the contract that he can.

America has freedom of speech. I definitely believe that GQ set him up to fail because they knew what his response would be. If A&E didn't want this to be part of their name then they shouldn't have allowed that interview and/or never should have done the show to begin with. His response back is quite what I expected also, he doesn't say he's never sinned, he doesn't say he's a perfect person in a perfect world, he says he loves everybody and that on judgement day people will have to pay for their own sins. If you're not a Christian then you don't believe any of that anyways. The Bible is very clear on what it says, Phil believing what it says and answering honestly has the country in an uproar. I don't tolerate hate, never have but from what I've read and what I know about the Christian Faith his response was very honest to what he believes.

Personally, I have no say on what A&E should do... But I don't foresee the show surviving without Phil.

cakebatter27 · December 2013

Eh. Everyone kinda knows what their family is like. He has the right to speak his mind. However, he learned there'll be backlash. A&E knew how he was/is.

iris427 · December 2013

A&E has every right to suspend him or refuse to give him a platform for his views. Freedom of speech doesn't mean freedom to say whatever you want with no repercussions from anyone.

I guess he's said some pretty racist stuff too. So, he sucks. And being a redneck or a Southerner or whatever is no excuse--I've met plenty of people from the same kind of background who would never say these things, and have no problem accepting people regardless of race, sexual identity, etc.

hgtvmom · December 2013

symphony4586 said:

Katieluc106 said:
Him being fired is a direct violation of his right to freedom of speech. I think it's wrong and stand by him.
Try this little experiment for me, go to work tomorrow and when you interact with customers/other businesses/whoever you can reach outside of the company and say the things he said. I'm taking a wild guess someone is going to complain, and if they do I'd also take a guess to say your boss and/or HR department will have something to say about and some sort of consequence will be involved.

Why should his employer not have the same rights just because he's famous? You can go around saying discriminatory things while representing your employer and not expect to face some consequence

Because the show has an element of religion in it. The producers obviously know this and have not had a problem with it until this point, when he is speaking about his religious beliefs. If the show did not have the religious element, my feelings would be different. They are essentially asking him to be the hypocrite that the main stream public thinks Christians are: to be overtly religious in one aspect - until our beliefs do not line up. Then there's trouble.

That's what I have an issue with. He's being who he is! And it was totally ok with the producers/network until he said something they don't agree with.

hgtvmom · December 2013

Lori_n_Lior said:
People who use freedom of speech as excuse for bigotry make me want to get violent. Your freedom of speech protects you from being arrested for your backwards beliefs, it does not protect you from the wrath of society or from getting fired for misrepresenting your employer with them.

Yet it's ok to use "freedom of speech" to hate on Phil. Whether on not we individually agree with his point of view, I find this two faced. It's ok for people to hate on him because it's their "opinion," yet, he's not allowed to share his own.

This is the number one reason I hate all of these debates. Everyone accuses the other side of the debate of being full of hatred or bigotry or stupidity or whatever. But no one looks in the mirror at their own behavior to see that they are doing the exact same thing.

katnipeverclean · December 2013

iris427 said:

A&E has every right to suspend him or refuse to give him a platform for his views. Freedom of speech doesn't mean freedom to say whatever you want with no repercussions from anyone.

I guess he's said some pretty racist stuff too. So, he sucks. And being a redneck or a Southerner or whatever is no excuse--I've met plenty of people from the same kind of background who would never say these things, and have no problem accepting people regardless of race, sexual identity, etc.

I hate people who blame bigotry on being from the South. I mean it makes me so angry I see red. Bigotry is alive and well all over this country and all over this world.

ETA: I'm not saying YOU said that. I'm saying people who use it as an excuse.

iris427 · December 2013

Pup4gdb said:

People who use freedom of speech as excuse for bigotry make me want to get violent. Your freedom of speech protects you from being arrested for your backwards beliefs, it does not protect you from the wrath of society or from getting fired for misrepresenting your employer with them.
Yet it's ok to use "freedom of speech" to hate on Phil. Whether on not we individually agree with his point of view, I find this two faced. It's ok for people to hate on him because it's their "opinion," yet, he's not allowed to share his own. This is the number one reason I hate all of these debates. Everyone accuses the other side of the debate of being full of hatred or bigotry or stupidity or whatever. But no one looks in the mirror at their own behavior to see that they are doing the exact same thing.

If being against racism and homophobia makes me a bigot in some people's eyes, well, I'm OK with that.

And how is he not allowed to share his opinion? He did share it, and people reacted. You can't expect to say whatever you want to the national media and not have any backlash. This is hardly persecution.

tristen33 · December 2013

The right to freedom of speech just means we as Americans can say what we want without getting put in jail for it. It does not mean that there are no repercussions for your actions. He exercised his right to speech, and he is still a free man. A&E also has a right to fire him for it.

biglewzer · December 2013

symphony4586 said:

People who use freedom of speech as excuse for bigotry make me want to get violent. Your freedom of speech protects you from being arrested for your backwards beliefs, it does not protect you from the wrath of society or from getting fired for misrepresenting your employer with them.
Yet it's ok to use "freedom of speech" to hate on Phil. Whether on not we individually agree with his point of view, I find this two faced. It's ok for people to hate on him because it's their "opinion," yet, he's not allowed to share his own. This is the number one reason I hate all of these debates. Everyone accuses the other side of the debate of being full of hatred or bigotry or stupidity or whatever. But no one looks in the mirror at their own behavior to see that they are doing the exact same thing.
I'm pretty sure if someone was at their job, on company time spouting off about much they hate the guy from Duck Dynasty for being a bigot to everyone they encountered the company would have just as much right to react to the situation if they didn't want to be represented in such a way. Everyone is entitled to their own opinions and to express them, just not when they are representing their employer.

This is the crux of it all.

MalLanning · December 2013

redhotmama7 said:
I watch the show and I love it. Phil has threatened to take down/ or leave the show before when A&E wouldn't allow him to share his beliefs on God when it's in the contract that he can.

^^ This. This is pretty much my side of the argument. People are insecure. You either support homosexuality or you don't. One should not be condemned based on their opinions supported by belief. I agree with Phil he was within his right to say what he said, why? Because it's how he feels. Whats he to do...lie? No!

And quite frankly, I don't agree with Ru Paul's Drag Race being aired on Cable TV but I'm not boycotting it, I just don't watch it. Therefore, if you don't agree with beliefs portrayed by the fellas and ladies of Duck Dynasty you shouldn't watch it or boycott it to get th show off the air. They show way worse things on cable tv and there's a lot more people that agree with Phil than don't. It's an argument those morons won't win. Opinion is opinion. And that's it.

America has freedom of speech. I definitely believe that GQ set him up to fail because they knew what his response would be. If A&E didn't want this to be part of their name then they shouldn't have allowed that interview and/or never should have done the show to begin with. His response back is quite what I expected also, he doesn't say he's never sinned, he doesn't say he's a perfect person in a perfect world, he says he loves everybody and that on judgement day people will have to pay for their own sins. If you're not a Christian then you don't believe any of that anyways. The Bible is very clear on what it says, Phil believing what it says and answering honestly has the country in an uproar. I don't tolerate hate, never have but from what I've read and what I know about the Christian Faith his response was very honest to what he believes.

Personally, I have no say on what A&E should do... But I don't foresee the show surviving without Phil.

blacktie3 · December 2013

He was asked a question and answered it honestly. I'm sure he was anticipating some backlash as the topic is highly sensitive. I have a gay brother and fully support and love him and his family just as much as I would if he were straight....however I think Phil had every write to answer the question honestly. I highly doubt anyone actually thought he was "representing" A & E in the matter. I mean come on most of the TV stations like that are pretty blue, but they also have the right to make their choices. I have respect for the fact that he knew his answer wasn't going to be popular but still stayed true to himself....don't see that alot these days. There are a lot of sheep out there.

biglewzer · December 2013

blacktie3 said:

He was asked a question and answered it honestly. I'm sure he was anticipating some backlash as the topic is highly sensitive. I have a gay brother and fully support and love him and his family just as much as I would if he were straight....however I think Phil had every write to answer the question honestly. I highly doubt anyone actually thought he was "representing" A & E in the matter. I mean come on most of the TV stations like that are pretty blue, but they also have the right to make their choices. I have respect for the fact that he knew his answer wasn't going to be popular but still stayed true to himself....don't see that alot these days. There are a lot of sheep out there.

He got the interview because she's the "star of the A&E hit show..." anything he does publicly while under contract represents A&E, not just him personally.

blacktie3 · December 2013

biglewzer said:

blacktie3 said:

He was asked a question and answered it honestly. I'm sure he was anticipating some backlash as the topic is highly sensitive. I have a gay brother and fully support and love him and his family just as much as I would if he were straight....however I think Phil had every write to answer the question honestly. I highly doubt anyone actually thought he was "representing" A & E in the matter. I mean come on most of the TV stations like that are pretty blue, but they also have the right to make their choices. I have respect for the fact that he knew his answer wasn't going to be popular but still stayed true to himself....don't see that alot these days. There are a lot of sheep out there.

He got the interview because she's the "star of the A&E hit show..." anything he does publicly while under contract represents A&E, not just him personally.

Like I said I doubt anyone actually thought that, I didn't say it didn't. Which I think most people didn't think it did.....But opinions are like A holes...... everyone's got one!

TigerLily12345 · December 2013

Of course he is "allowed" to state his opinions, but that doesn't mean there won't be consequences. A&E is also allowed to remove him from their channel.

He is not being thrown in jail, tortured by the government, or legally punished for stating his opinions. There is no violation of free speech here.

Team A&E.

ashtonblair123 · December 2013

I don't know why anyone is surprised that A&E suspended him. They are protecting themselves. Look at Paula Deen and that was something she said years and years ago.

biglewzer · December 2013

ashtonblair123 said:

I don't know why anyone is surprised that A&E suspended him. They are protecting themselves. Look at Paula Deen and that was something she said years and years ago.

Exactly, and she was under deposition!

BettyBoop86 · December 2013

Okay they asked a guy from the back country of Lousiana his opinion on Gay Marriage...they had to know what he was going to say.

flajewel · December 2013

It was a dumb move, a &e has every right to drop him same as he has every right to speak his mind. He sounds super ignorant to me. I don't watch the show so I won't miss him, but I agree somebody else will pick it up. He sounds racist and homophobic. Not my type of man.

Myanswer true · December 2013

Voltaire once said, "I do not agree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." Regardless of whether you agree with Phil or not, the beauty of this country is that he had every right to say what he said.

To be honest, I don't see how his statement can be construed as hateful, when he comes right out and says that while homosexuality is against his beliefs, it is also against his beliefs to judge others and that he would never treat another person badly just because they were different than him.

Myanswer true · December 2013

I'll admit that I watch this show and its pretty clear they are very religious and conservative (which I'm not). The more they give interviews, the less I want to keep watching. I thought I read somewhere else that he admitted to cheating on his wife before he "found Jesus." So, he's just another hypocrite.

^I do not think this word means what you think it means. If I tell my child it is wrong to lie and then lie more than the average politician, I am a hypocrite. However, if I tell my child not to pick their nose, which I also did as a child but no longer do, that does not make me a hypocrite. That makes me a person who has seen the error of my ways. "Hypocrite" is kind of a hot button word to me the way "gender" is to some of the rest of this fine group of folks. It gets used in lots of places it shouldn't.

tourqeyes · December 2013

This thread made me think of this.

I don't agree with his beliefs but this made me LOL

cyndelgrace · December 2013

The amount of ignorance this and the new CA law are bringing to my FB wall is overwhelming.

Angeliquesmom · December 2013

TigerLily12345 said:

Of course he is "allowed" to state his opinions, but that doesn't mean there won't be consequences. A&E is also allowed to remove him from their channel.

He is not being thrown in jail, tortured by the government, or legally punished for stating his opinions. There is no violation of free speech here.

Team A&E.

THANK YOU! No one muzzled him, he was ALLOWED TO FREELY VOICE HIS OPINION in whatever venue he choose (ie-freedom of speech). There are CONSEQUENCES to your actions. If you are not prepared for them, then.do.not.utter.anything.out.loud. alfjdlkjglkhfsldjflakjfds *explodes*

ETA: I do not HATE the man, because his EXISTENCE doesn't matter or impact my life one iota. I could give two shits about him. : / I just hate how all this has blown up just because he is "famous". It's just a ploy to stir the pot and further divide this country anyways.

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