‘Duck Dynasty’ star placed on leave after anti-gay, racist remarks

Phil Robertson of the TV show “Duck Dynasty” has been placed on indefinite leave for anti-gay and racist comments he made in the January issue of GQ.

The star of the A&E reality series told the magazine, “Everything is blurred on what’s right and what’s wrong Sin becomes fine.… 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.”

He also said, “It seems like, to me, a vagina — as a man — would be more desirable than a man’s anus. That’s just me. I’m just thinking: There’s more there! She’s got more to offer. I mean, come on, dudes! You know what I’m saying?”

He went on, “But hey, sin: It’s not logical, my man. It’s just not logical.”

Robertson’s son Jeb, in the magazine feature, said he’s not as outspoken as his dad on the subject, but “I’m definitely in line.”

GLAAD, a national anti-defamation group and media watchdog, responded with a statement: “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. He clearly knows nothing about gay people or the majority of Louisianans — 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 re-examine their ties to someone with such disdain for LGBT people and families.”

Human Rights Campaign president Chad Griffin also responded, “Phil Robertson’s remarks are not consistent with the values of our faith communities or the scientific findings of leading medical organizations. We know that being gay is not a choice someone makes, and that to suggest otherwise can be incredibly harmful. We also know that Americans of faith follow the Golden Rule — treating others with the respect and dignity you’d wish to be treated with. As a role model on a show that attracts millions of viewers, Phil Robertson has a responsibility to set a positive example for young Americans – not shame and ridicule them because of who they are.”

Griffin added, “The actions of Phil Robertson unquestionably reflect on A&E. The network should take immediate action to condemn Phil Robertson’s remarks and make clear they don’t support his views.”

The NAACP also objected to Robertson’s remarks to the magazine. Robertson said African Americans were happier during the Jim Crow era: “Pre-entitlement, pre-welfare, you say: Were they happy? They were godly; they were happy; no one was singing the blues.” 

A&E has since released a statement from Robertson, in which he claimed to be a “product of the ’60s” living a life centered on “sex, drugs and rock and roll” until he became a born-again Christian.

Robertson, in the statement, said, “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.”

The network, later on Dec. 19, also announced that Robertson was on leave. It said in a statement: “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.’ His personal views in no way reflect those of A+E Networks, who have always been strong supporters and champions of the LGBT community. The network has placed Phil under hiatus from filming indefinitely.”

On the Web…

The GQ article.