It’s been nearly three months since the A&E network reinstated Phil Robertson, the dad of the Duck Dynasty clan, who was suspended for making comments that some people believed were anti-gay.
And since then he and the rest of the Robertson family have tried their best to remove themselves from the controversy and get back to focusing on their hit television show, but in an interview with CNN, one of his sons, Willie Robertson, stuck up for his dad and said he was just stating his beliefs.
“Phil just said what he thought, what was on his heart. He did some paraphrasing there,” said Willie. “I believe what the Bible says….you have to read the Bible and make up your own mind.”
Willie’s wife said that people love her father in-law, and anyone who comes in contact with him–regardless of their sexuality or race–is treated equally by him, and Phil tries his best to live a life of unity.
“Anyone who knows [Phil], any gay, straight, black, white, anybody who knows Phil knows that he is about love and his message is about God’s love, God’s grace and his forgiveness, ultimately,” said Korie Robertson, who’s also her husband’s business partner.
But did Phil’s comments hurt the show? Because according to reports, Duck Dynasty is suffering from the lowest ratings since the show began. However, that could easily be due to the show just running its course, because most reality shows start getting a little repetitive and predictable after the first few seasons.
However, Willie said if Duck Dynasty did end tomorrow, he would have no regrets, since he and his family got to share their beliefs with everyone, which was always their main goal. “We were able to use that platform to get out God’s message, and if it ended right there, it ended right there,” he said. “I felt like that was pretty much what God prepared us to do.”
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