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  • Duck Dynasty Wife: I Brought Baggage into Family

    Duck Dynasty wife Jessica Robertson, who is married to Jep Robertson, admits that she brought baggage to the family. The reveal came in the book The Women of Duck Commander, which will be out April 1st. The book is promising as a window into the lives of one of the country’s most famous families.

    However, the family known for wholesome fun and Christian values has its share of past mistakes made by its members. Just like any other family, these past mistakes sometimes effect the family as a whole.

    Jessica says all will be revealed in the new book.

    In an interview with Fox 411, she said of Jep and his family, “Of course when I met his family I realized it ran deep in the roots of the family. I of course fell in love with the family and they welcomed me in their home and they were so forgiving of anything I did in my past as a young girl.”

    She wasn’t alone in her past struggles, however. It seems her husband also had issues in the past that he has dealt with, with the help of his family.

    She said, “…we struggled with different things when we were young. He both struggled in different areas of life and in different ways. We want to share with the world our love story and our love story for God, how he was so forgiving and how we can utilize these areas to hopefully help others and help our children. A lot of it is not just knowing God forgives you, it’s forgiving yourself and moving on. Hopefully our book will be channeling some of those emotions.”

    The family’s famous faith in God is one of the things that drew her to Jep in the first place. She says Jep was the one who baptized her.

    “When I first met him I was just hanging out with him and his buddies, a group of people from church would hang out and do Bible studies. We met in March 2001 and in April he baptized me in the lake and then we started dating in June. We got married in October so it was really quick.”

    Jessica and the other wives from Duck Dynasty open up about all of their past struggles and what makes the Robertson family so great in the new book. It should be a pretty good read!

    Image Via YouTube

  • Duck Dynasty Ratings Plummet: The End Near?

    Duck Dynasty Ratings Plummet: The End Near?

    It’s no secret that Duck Dynasty‘s ratings have been dropping for some time now.

    There wasn’t as much concern early in the season. Even though it was clear that the show’s popularity had peaked in the wake of the Phil Robertson controversy, many imagined that its ratings would hold steady.

    However with numbers like these ahead of the season finale, fans may have a good reason to worry about the reality television show’s fate.

    The fifth season started on enough of a high, pulling in 8.5 million viewers for the season premiere. A lot people no doubt tuned in to see what all the fuss was about following the negative internet chatter.

    Duck Dynasty fans saw the numbers as affirmation that Robertson’s comments were as inoffensive to the rest of the world as it was to them. A&E likely saw this as a sign they were right to restore Robertson after his controversial comments.

    However as both A&E and the faithful Duck Dynasty audience soon saw, television audiences are a truly fickle bunch. While the controversy likely cost them faithful viewers, it was also not enough to keep new viewers interested for very long.

    With each passing week the show’s ratings began to slide. This past week the episode finished with 4.7 million viewers. This means that the reality television show managed to lose about half the audience it started the season with. Ouch!

    To rub salt into the wound, it was dethroned reality tv show leader for the week after Bravo‘s Real Housewives of Atlanta edged out its 1.9 number with a slightly better 2.0.

    Duck Dynasty will likely see higher numbers for the season finale on March 26th. Even so, the numbers will likely be a far cry from the 11.7 million viewer record that it set last summer.

    The show’s future is already turning into a question mark. To drop half your audience in a single season is generally a death knell.

    Unless A&E makes some serious changes, anything beyond an additional season may be overly optimistic regarding the future of Duck Dynasty.

    Image via YouTube

  • Sadie Robertson: No Miley Cyrus or Justin Bieber

    “God, please give me an opportunity to make a difference in this world.”

    16-year old Sadie Robertson is a “Duck heiress,” daughter of Willie Robertson and granddaughter of Phil Robertson of Duck Dynasty fame. She has been in the spotlight since 2012 when the reality television show premiered on A&E. But in a recent interview, Sadie said that even with all the fame, there is no reason to lose her Christian faith.

    “I think people use fame as an excuse to lose their faith,” Sadie told FOX411. “Faith is obviously my number one priority and I think you need to put God at the top of everything you do.”

    Sadie, who has her own YouTube channel with Preachers’ Daughters star Kolby Koloff, said that before the hit reality show even began, her family sat down at dinner to discuss the rules.

    “We had a family dinner before the show started and we talked about if at any time in this journey that God is not first, then we have to put the show away,” she recalled.

    “If we start to think of ourselves too highly, we remember that we were happy before the show and we will be happy after the show.”

    The secret phrase her Uncle Si came up with to keep the family grounded is “Remember the Alamo?” They use it if one of the family members gets too caught up in the fame.

    “This world can influence you in some bad ways,” Sadie said. “I know I couldn’t do it by myself and my family reminds me why I’m doing this. We wouldn’t have anything that we do have if it weren’t for God and we have to give Him the glory for everything.”

    Sadie said that gets at least one tweet a day that reads “I hope Sadie Robertson doesn’t turn out like Miley Cyrus.”

    It is indeed difficult for the public to believe that a girl of Sadie’s age wouldn’t be influenced in the negative ways that other young celebrities have been. After all, Miley Cyrus has recently been posing topless for anyone who will look and Justin Bieber has been arrested for DUI charges. Yet Sadie continues to stay grounded.

    “It just takes one person to take a stance and begin doing something different,” she said.

    Along with her Duck Dynasty fame, Sadie has recently launched a “daddy approved length” prom dress clothing line called Live Original by Sadie Robertson which she modeled during New York Fashion Week.

    Image via: Wikimedia Commons

  • Duck Dynasty’s Sadie Says Show Is For God First

    Duck Dynasty has been in the news several times for causing a stir and for a family that is first and foremost trying to change the way the world looks at life, this is sometimes a good thing.

    Sadie Robertson, daughter of Willie and Korie Robertson, told Fox 411 that the Robertson Clan started the show for one purpose only, and that wasn’t fame.

    “When we began ‘Duck Dynasty,’ we weren’t starting it for fame,” she said. “We started it to get the message of God out there.”

    She added, “We could have easily done a reality show like everyone else,” she said. “But it’s our faith that catches people’s eyes because sadly, it’s not something we’re used to seeing [on TV] these days.”

    This is something that is sad, and true. Sadie recalled the family dinner where they decided to go ahead with the show, “We had a family dinner before the show started and we talked about if at any time in this journey that God is not first, then we have to put the show away.”

    And if fame starts to go to their heads?

    “If we start to think of ourselves too highly, we remember that we were happy before the show and we will be happy after the show.”, she said.

    Sadie has amazingly strong character for a 16-year-old, and has carried her family’s values over into her own life as she begins to strike out on her own and begin her work for God.

    She has walked the runway at New York’s Fashion Week, designed dresses, sang with Allison Krauss, and many other things that girls her age could only dream of. But her most important work doesn’t center around herself or her life at all.

    She co-hosts a popular Youtube series called “The New Different” with “Preacher’s Daughters” star Kolby Koloff which is making a difference in the lives of kids her age, and holding fast to the family’s principle of bringing God into the lives of those who watch.

    “We started ‘The New Different‘ because we saw all of these people get famous from doing stupid things on Vine and YouTube and we thought if they can put the stupidest things online and have millions of views, why don’t we start a Christian-based video series?”

    Sadie admitted that she gets mean tweets all the time and at least one a day that expresses someone’s hope that she does or does not end up like Miley Cyrus, but she keeps moving forward and says that if they just help one person, it’s worth the abuse.

    “When you’re famous you do get so much attention that I can see how you could just think the world of yourself. I think if you go into it thinking that this is not for me, that this is for God, you’ll be okay.”

    Image via YouTube

  • “Duck Dynasty” Fam Earns 5-Year Deal With Bowl Game

    “Duck Dynasty” has seen its share of drama in recent months, but the family behind the name is looking to turn that around by putting their name out there in a very different way. Duck Commander, the Robertson family’s line of outdoor gear, will be sponsoring Louisiana’s Independence Bowl in a new 5-year deal.

    “College football is very important to us, both as fans and former players. The Independence Bowl is what college football is all about: It has great tradition and it’s all-American. Add in its Louisiana location and appreciation of the military and it creates a winning partnership for both parties. It’s especially exciting to see our brand help the Independence Bowl create an awesome fan experience,” said Willie Robertson.

    As of now, a date for the game hasn’t been set, but it will officially be titled the Duck Commander Independence Bowl. Chairman Paul Pratt says he’s happy that the Robertson family chose to restore the original name of the game, as it had been changed to the AdvoCare Bowl previously.

    “The Independence Bowl has a long history of bringing valuable and exciting sports entertainment to the Shreveport-Bossier City area. This is a new day and an excellent opportunity for college football in Louisiana,” Pratt said.

    The family was briefly suspended from A&E after patriarch Phil gave an interview to GQ Magazine in which he spoke about the sin of homosexuality. After public backlash, the show seemed to be in jeopardy until die-hard fans insisted that Phil and his family not be punished for their beliefs, and the show went on as scheduled.

    “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? But hey, sin: It’s not logical, my man. It’s just not logical…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 said in the interview.

    Image via YouTube

  • Duck Dynasty’s Sadie Is No Miley Cyrus

    Both Miley Cyrus and Duck Dynasty‘s Sadie Robertson come from the same Christian background. Both became famous at a young age. Both have strong, loving families.

    But, they could not be more different today.

    While Cyrus has delved into a more racy persona posing topless and using sexual innuendo in nearly everything she does, 16-year-old Robertson has remained steadfast in her faith and the values set for her by her family.

    “I think people use fame as an excuse to lose their faith,” Roberston said in a recent interview with Fox News. “Faith is obviously my number one priority and I think you need to put God at the top of everything you do.”

    Despite the temptations that come with fame and being in the spotlight, the daughter of Duck Dynasty‘s Willie Robertson has decided to use that spotlight to promote family values.

    “When we began Duck Dynasty,” we weren’t starting it for fame,” she said. “We started it to get the message of God out there.”

    )

    The young Robertson says the reality show is so very different from most of today’s television programming. Instead of violence, sex and self-serving programs, she says they provide wholesome, Christian values for families to watch together.

    “We could have easily done a reality show like everyone else,” she said. “But it’s our faith that catches people’s eyes because sadly, it’s not something we’re used to seeing [on TV] these days.”

    Robertson says the family sat down some ground rules before taking on the reality show.

    “We had a family dinner before the show started and we talked about if at any time in this journey that God is not first, then we have to put the show away,” Robertson recalled.

    “If we start to think of ourselves too highly, we remember that we were happy before the show and we will be happy after the show.”

    Image via Twitter, Sadie Robertson

  • Duck Commander Named New Independence Bowl Sponsor

    There is no stopping the Duck Dynasty folks as they now have their own bowl game.  Duck Commander, which is the brand of duck calls owned by the Robertson family, has recently been named the new title sponsor for the Independence Bowl, according to local paper Shreveport Times.

    Independence Bowl executive director Missy Setters confirmed to the Times that the Foundation has reached an agreement with Duck Commander to serve as the honored 38-year-old bowl’s sponsor for six years. Times also stated that foundation officials will be releasing an official announcement on Wednesday.

    Duck Commander was established by Phil Alexander “Phil” Robertson, a former quarterback of the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs and current patriarch in the hit television series,  Duck Dynasty on the A&E network. The drastic success of the show increased sales of their Duck Commander merchandise and put the spotlight on Robertson, specifically his recent remarks on religion and homosexuality.

    Robertson is a professional hunter based in West Monroe, Louisiana. His family-operated business makes various duck hunting products, the most popular of which is a duck call named Duck Commander. The reality TV series “Duck Dynasty”, which depicts the lives of the Robertson clan, is currently on its fourth season. The season premiere garnered record-breaking ratings, making it the most-watched episode of a non-fiction series in the history of cable television.

    Duck Commander released a statement two weeks ago about a multi-year agreement with NASCAR as the title sponsor for the Sprint Cup Series race. The event is set to be called “Duck Commander 500”.

    For the next six years, the Duck Commander Independence Bowl will be in charge of pairing teams from the Atlantic Coast Conference and Southeastern Conference. In the event that either league is unable to provide a representative, the Bowl will resort to back-up deals with American and Conference USA.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Duck Dynasty Stars Go Out for a Good Cause

    The stars of Duck Dynasty were out on the town in Charleston, W. Va., Saturday night for the event Dare to be a Duck. The night was sponsored by Youth Commission ministries, which, according to their website, is…

    ” …a ministry focused on reaching the world for Christ through youth! Youth Commission helps middle and high school students start and maintain Christian clubs that meet on on their school campuses.”

    “We have students who love the Lord and are trying to make a difference in their homes, trying to make a difference in the community, and also on their school campus,” said YCI’s President and CEO Dennis Williams.

    The club encourages kids to take a stand for their beliefs, just like the famous and quirky family they watch every week. Williams hopes to get more kids involved and let them know that they’re not alone.

    “We hope things explode here,” said Williams.

    The crowd welcomed the reality stars with open arms, and couldn’t wait to meet in person the popular (and controversial) personalities of the hit show. Most people, when faced with the chance to meet reality stars in real life, want assurances that what they see on the screen matches up with their true personality.

    “I want to see Duck Dynasty,” said Aiden Blair. He and his father came from Ironton, Ohio to meet the stars and hopefully get a picture, according to WSAZ.

    Andrew Reynolds, another fan of the show’s family, came with one question on his mind. In fact, it’s probably one that we all wonder at one point or another. “I was wondering what Si was like in real life.”

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1_6SPts0Qc

    The family does a great job supporting causes like this one, and surely welcome such distractions. It seems that they have put a tough year behind them and are using the experiences to move forward and do work that is close to their hearts and that actually makes a difference.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Duck Dynasty Ratings Plummet: Time For New Scandal?

    Scandals are great for ratings.

    It had looked like the “mispeak” by Duck Dynasty star Phil Robertson would do wonders for the show.

    After A&E threatened to remove the beloved patriarch, thousands rallied and the network changed its mind. What also may have helped reverse A&E’s decision may have been all the merchandise flying off shelves and the promise of a larger viewing audience thanks to all the publicity brought on by the controversy.

    But nothing lasts forever.

    The show’s ratings are down from last season among audiences, particularly in the highly coveted 18-49 age range.

    While the ratings loss is not yet enough to order a coffin to put the series in, it does suggest the series has lost whatever steam was gifted to it by previous water cooler conversation. There’s always something new to gossip about or be angry about and nobody cares about Duck Dynasty anymore.

    When nobody cares about a show on the decline, that’s a sign that something drastic may need to be done in order to turn things around.

    But what can the Robertson clan do to get tongues wagging again?

    They’ve already got the homophobia and racism boxes checked. Perhaps a scandal involving a long lost child from a secret affair should show up on the show. Let’s say a gay black son named Ambroise who votes Democrat, hates meat because he’s a vegan, and resents prayers at the dinner table because he’s an atheist.

    Scandalous.

    Or they can up the ante by revealing themselves to be clean-shaven ultra-rich yuppies who once upon a time looked like Abercrombie and Fitch models and only donned the camouflage print and the unsightly facial hair when, in the tradition of Vince McMahon’s WWE, it became profitable to design an image to cater to America’s “salt of the Earth”. That is, those people who think wrestling story lines are real and believe every word of everything ever said on television.

    Whichever route the Robertson’s take, something major will have to happen. A television audience rarely sticks around to be bored by a show for very long.

    Image via YouTube

  • Duck Dynasty – Why Do You Watch It?

    Duck Dynasty is about to return to A&E, a moment many fans have been anxiously waiting for. During the show’s break, the already popular characters got a lot more publicity than usual, including some they may not have bargained for. When the show returns, it is expected that its fan base will have grown much larger, as people who were not fans before the Phil Robertson controversy tune in to see what the hype is all about.

    Phil’s comments about homosexuality and civil rights offended many people, while others felt as if he was only speaking his mind and taking advantage of his first amendment right to freedom of speech. The controversy surrounding the show and the cast means that everyone will be watching for their own reasons.

    Those who support Phil will likely be watching to see how things have changed as a result of his suspension. The good news for these fans is that not much will change. Phil will still be in the show and even though he was suspended for a short period of time, the show was not filming during that time, so he did not miss out on any episodes.

    If you are thinking about tuning into the show because you don’t agree with Phil and are wondering how the show will handle the controversy, you are out of luck. Since the show wasn’t filming when it all went down, it won’t be addressing the situation either.

    Duck Dynasty has a large following and now that following has grown to even include people who don’t necessarily agree with the statements made by Phil and on the show. For some, watching Duck Dynasty is a statement within itself and a way for people with the same mindset as the Robertson family to feel accepted.

    Why do you watch Duck Dynasty?

    Image via YouTube.

  • Duck Dynasty Quacks Back Tonight

    After a month of controversy over anti-gay and pro-Jim Crow statements, suspensions from A&E, reinstatement to A&E, and Twitter pages gone wild, Phil Robertson and the rest of the family returns to the fifth season of the Louisiana-based reality show.

    Duck Dynasty will air once again on A&E at 10pm E.T. tonight. But will there be changes in the show? Likely not considering this season was already wrapped up before last month’s controversy even began. In fact, the network has been continually airing re-runs until the new season begins.

    As far as Phil’s “suspension” goes – well, it didn’t. A&E lifted the suspension only a few weeks after they announced it, not affecting anything at all about the show. Supporters of Phil (the “I Stand With Phil” fans) feel as if they have won their moral fight and those who were highly offended by his statements believe he was punished.

    Louisiana governor Bobby Jindal came to the defense of the Robertsons in December saying, “Phil Robertson and his family are great citizens of the State of Louisiana. The politically correct crowd is tolerant of all viewpoints, except those they disagree with.”

    “In fact”, he added. “I remember when TV networks believed in the First Amendment.”

    However, despite Jindal and Sarah Palin’s support, there is no First Amendment right to having your own television show. Nonetheless, the old-school family – Miss Kay, Phil, Willie, Si, Jase, and Korie – is back tonight with their show holding the slot for the number one unscripted series on television.

    The 11.8 million viewers of the reality show will most likely continue watching and naysayers will do as they always have done: refuse to watch it. Perhaps Duck Dynasty will pick up a few new curious viewers who have had the name drilled into their ears by media (print and social) and by simply walking into Wal-Mart, where the Duck Dynasty merchandise has generated over $200 million for the Robertsons.

    In fact, even more revenue will be generated this season since Food for Health International announced today that they will retain license with the Duck Commander and Buck Commander franchises, owned by the Robertson family, for the company’s line of 29 freeze-dried and dehydrated meals for outdoor adventures.

    “Food for Health is extremely proud to partner with the Duck Commander and Buck Commander lines to further promote families gathered around the table to share delicious meals, and families engaged in outdoor activities in the tradition of the Robertson family,” said Founder and CEO, Frank Davis. “Their widespread appeal to family values and traditions of hunting make for the perfect partnership with our company.”

    Willie Robertson, CEO of Duck Commander and Buck Commander responded by saying, “Our family franchises are built on hard work, family values and our great American heritage. We hope the Duck Commander Meals will help families take command of their hunger with fast-fixin’ food that’s whisker-lickin’ good.”

    So, the duck call will continue on, drawing in both waterfowl and viewers – and lots of green.

    Image via Twitter

  • Clay Aiken Considers Congressional Run

    Clay Aiken, American Idol’s runner-up in 2003, is considering a run for Congress in North Carolina’s 2nd congressional district. The 35-year-old has taken some of the first steps toward officially throwing his hat into the ring. In addition to having a conversation with the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, he has also spoken with Betsy Conti. She is a political strategist known for her work with both former Gov. Bev Purdue, D-N.C., and former Vice President Al Gore.

    A source also claims Aiken met with pollsters at Hart Research Associates in Washington, D.C. This means survey data has likely been explored.

    So if Clay Aiken really does run for Congress, who will his strongest opponents be? Rep. Renee Ellmers, R-N.C. was voted into office in 2010 by way of the Tea Party will run for re-election. And a fellow Democrat, former North Carolina Commerce Secretary Keith Crisco, is expected to announce his candidacy in the race as early as Monday. This means Aiken has some pretty stiff competition as a newcomer to politics.

    Aiken has, at the very least, had some experience as an activist. He is the co-founder of the National Inclusion Project, which works to help disabled children. He also made an appearance at a Capitol Hill briefing in 2010, where he implored lawmakers to pass anti-bullying legislation that protects LGBT students.

    Clay recently voiced his opinion of Duck Dynasty’s Phil Robertson and his homophobic rant.

    Clay Aiken no doubt has the best of intentions in his consideration of a Congressional run, but does he have what it takes to get elected? That, of course, remains to be seen.

    Image via Wikimedia

  • Duck Commander Guns – Duck Dynasty Launches Gun Line

    Duck Dynasty is on a roll. Not only was family patriarch Phil Robertson suspended and then reinstated on the show, but now the family has decided they will start making guns. Duck Commander has teamed up with the gun maker Mossberg to create their own gun line that they hope will do as well as their other products and television show.

    The companies will work together to release nine different shotguns, two semiautomatic rifles, and a semiautomatic pistol. Some of the guns have already been made and have been shipped to distributors. Mossberg has not yet said which distributors or stores will carry the new Duck Commander guns.

    The Duck Commander guns will come in a “waterfowl pattern” camouflage but that doesn’t mean they can only be used to hunt waterfowl. Buyers can expect the guns to perform as well as they look. Mossberg’s website says the firearms will all come with an American flag bandana like the one worn by Willie on the show.

    Mossberg currently has 4 advertisements for the guns on their website. In one of the ads, Phil says, “Do you know what makes me happy ladies and gentlemen? To blow a mallard drake’s head smooth off.”

    It’s safe to say both Phil and the rest of the Robertson family are happy to have him back on the show and working with the company. The new line of guns is just what the Robertson clan needs to help them forget about Phil’s suspension and get back on track with their company.

    What do you think of the new Duck Commander guns?

    Image via YouTube.

  • “Duck Dynasty” Stars To Release New Gun Line

    The stars of “Duck Dynasty” were in a lot of headlines near the end of 2013, and it looks like the trend continues into the new year as news spreads about their new venture: guns.

    The Robertson family, who have built their fortune upon duck calls, have now teamed up with gun maker Mossberg to create nine shotguns, two semiautomatic rifles, and a semiautomatic pistol. While it’s not clear just yet which retailers will carry the weapons, they’re sure to be a big hit with fans of the show, who have already shown great interest in the many, many items bearing the “Duck Dynasty” and Duck Commander logos.

    Family patriarch Phil Robertson found himself in hot water in December when an interview he did with GQ was published that included his thoughts on homosexuality, among other hot button topics.

    “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? But hey, sin: It’s not logical, my man. It’s just not logical…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 said.

    Robertson’s comments quickly led to backlash from both sides of the fence, and A&E announced they were suspending him indefinitely from the show. After fans took to social media in outrage, however, they reversed their decision. Now, the family says, they are ready to move past it all.

    “We’re just glad to be back to work, and A&E and us are fine,” Willie said during Fox News’ New Year’s Eve special, All American New Year. “We’re looking forward to getting back to making some funny shows. It’s a New Year so we’re ready to break in a New Year and start it all over again. We’re ready to move on, you know. I think we all learned a lot and we’re just ready to move on, and the family’s happy, and we’re ready to go. I’ve got to make sure my guys are back there building duck calls.”

    Image via YouTube

  • Willie Robertson Says They Are Ready To Move On

    After a month full of controversy over comments made by the Duck Dynasty patriarch Phil Robertson, Willie Robertson, Phil’s son and CEO of their duck call company, says the family is ready to move on and continue making their show.

    “We’re just glad to be back to work, and A&E and us are fine,” Willie said during Fox News’ New Year’s Eve special, All American New Year. “We’re looking forward to getting back to making some funny shows. It’s a New Year so we’re ready to break in a New Year and start it all over again,” Willie continued. “We’re ready to move on, you know. I think we all learned a lot and we’re just ready to move on, and the family’s happy, and we’re ready to go. I’ve got to make sure my guys are back there building duck calls.”

    Korie Robertson, who joined Willie in the interview, shared her husband’s opinion. “Hey, I’m just glad the family’s all together, the best thing about the show is we get to do it as a family,” she said. “We’re all happy, happy, happy.”

    On December 27, Willie took to Twitter to announce that the Robertson boys were back to work. In his tweet, he also defended his father saying: “Ole Phil may be a little crude but his heart is good. He is the Real Deal!”

    Image via Twitter

  • GLAAD is Not Happy About A&E’s Duck Dynasty Decision

    The folks at GLAAD are not pleased with A&E’s decision to lift Phil Robertson’s suspension from Duck Dynasty. The network suspended the head of the Robertson family “indefinitely” after he made remarks about homosexuality in a GQ interview that many perceived to be anti-gay. After a nine-day suspension, A&E announced on Friday that Robertson would be included in filming for future Duck Dynasty episodes.

    After GLAAD first heard of Robertson’s comments in the interview, which included calling homosexuality a sin and comparing a woman’s vagina to a man’s anus, the group asked A&E to consider severing their ties with the duck hunter. “Phil’s decision to push vile and extreme stereotypes is a stain on A&E and his sponsors who now need to reexamine their ties to someone with such public disdain for LGBT people and families,” GLAAD spokesperson Wilson Cruz said.

    Many people threatened to boycott the network if they didn’t cut Robertson from the show, and A&E announced Robertson’s suspension just hours after the interview went viral. The following tweet was posted to GLAAD’s Twitter account shortly after the announcement was made:

    As it turned out, there were quite a few people unhappy with A&E’s decision to suspend Robertson–more than one million people joined a Facebook page to support the man, and a petition was started asking A&E to bring Robertson back that received thousands of signatures. Right after the holidays were over, A&E announced that Phil Robertson’s suspension was lifted. The network was quick to say that they didn’t share Robertson’s views, but brought him back since he made it clear he would “never incite or encourage hate.”

    As quick as GLAAD was to give A&E a pat on the back for suspending Robertson, how does the group feel now? Not “happy, happy, happy,” that’s for sure. Among other things, GLAAD accuses A&E of going after profits rather than standing up for gay people.

    “Phil Robertson should look African American and gay people in the eyes and hear about the hurtful impact of praising Jim Crow laws and comparing gay people to terrorists,” GLAAD said in a statement. “If dialogue with Phil is not part of next steps then A&E has chosen profits over African American and gay people—especially its employees and viewers.”

    Image via YouTube

  • GLAAD Responds To A&E’s Phil Robertson Decision

    “Phil Robertson should look African American and gay people in the eyes and hear about the hurtful impact of praising Jim Crow laws and comparing gay people to terrorists.” That’s what the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation said in response to A&E’s decision to bring Robertson back to the show “Duck Dynasty.” The story was first reported by ABC News.

    Earlier this month the cable network suspended the 67 year old for making what some considered to be inflammatory remarks towards the gay community, and right away many people came to his defense, including a few politicians like Sarah Palin and Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal.

    Additionally, Robertson said that he never saw black people unhappy before the civil rights movement, which GLAAD said was equally offensive. “If dialogue with Phil is not part of next steps then A&E has chosen profits over African American and gay people, especially its employees and viewers,” GLAAD said.

    It’s been a month of back-and-fourths between Robertson supporters, A&E and GLAAD, and during that dialogue it seems that neither side has budged from their position at all. In fact, the “Duck Dynasty” family threatened to stop filming the show and said they couldn’t see going forward without their beloved patriarch.

    And after the controversial remarks were first released GLAAD spokesperson Wilson Cruz called Robertson vile and out of touch.

    “He clearly knows nothing about gay people or the majority of Louisianans and 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 reexamine their ties to someone with such public disdain for LGBT people and families,” Cruz stated.

    However, there was very little response from GLADD in the way of defending African Americans until now, and some might believe the organization is only mentioning the black community at this point to rally as many people as it can. If there’s one thing that’s for sure, It doesn’t seem like this debate will be going away anytime soon, and it’s bound to spill over into the new year.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Duck Dynasty Will Resume With Phil Robertson

    Duck Dynasty fans were waiting on the edge of their seats to find out if the show would be lifting Phil Robertson’s suspension and resume filming with him. They all got the answer they had hoped for when A&E announced that they would be lifting Phil’s suspension and resuming the series with the entire family.

    Phil was suspended from the show after he was accused of making offensive comments about homosexuals. Not only was Phil suspended, but many stores contemplated not selling Duck Dynasty merchandise for fear that it would offend customers and put a damper on business.

    Several petitions to support Phil and demand that his suspension be lifted began spreading across the web and social networks like Twitter and Facebook were full of debates, arguments and comments about the incident and whether Phil Robertson should be allowed back on the show.

    The suspension lasted just over a week and although many gay support groups and advocates praised A&E for its actions against Phil, many other people stressed that tolerance worked both ways and claimed that Phil was simply voicing his opinion and not bashing gays.

    A&E decided to lift Phil’s suspension and said that he would be allowed to be in future tapings of the show. The network said,

    “After discussions with the Robertson family, as well as consulting with numerous advocacy groups, A&E has decided to resume filming Duck Dynasty later this spring with the entire Robertson family.”

    Freedom of speech may have ultimately prevailed over censorship, but A&E insists that they do not agree with Phil’s comments and has decided to broadcast public service announcements that promote unity, tolerance and acceptance among all people.

    So are you happy to hear about the suspension being lifted or do you think A&E made the wrong choice?

    Image via Twitter.

  • Phil Robertson: ‘Duck Dynasty’ Patriarch Back on A&E

    Phil Robertson, the patriarch of the hit A&E show Duck Dynasty, is no longer under suspension by the network. A&E lifted the suspension this week and Robertson will continue appearing on the show with the rest of his family, despite the recent homophobic remarks he made. The network made the announcement on Friday despite the protests of many of the show’s fans.

    Phil Robertson’s remarks to GQ magazine sparked a debate that spanned the nation over tolerance and religion.

    “As a global media content company, A&E Networks’ core values are centered around creativity, inclusion and mutual respect,” a statement from A&E reads. “We believe it is a privilege for our brands to be invited into people’s homes and we operate with a strong sense of integrity and deep commitment to these principles. While Phil’s comments made in the (GQ) interview reflect his personal views based on his own beliefs, and his own personal journey, he and his family have publicly stated they regret the ‘coarse language’ he used and the misinterpretation of his core beliefs based only on the article. He also made it clear he would ‘never incite or encourage hate.’”

    Do you think A&E has made a big mistake? Even NBC’s The TODAY Show appears to question Friday’s decision.

    The family issued to statement to FoxNews.com, saying they are “excited to keep making a quality TV show for our dedicated fans, who have showed us wonderful support. We will continue to represent our faith and values in the most positive way through ‘Duck Dynasty’ and our many projects that we are currently working on.The outpouring of support and prayer has encouraged and emboldened us greatly.”

    The new season of Duck Dynasty will premiere on January 15th.

    Image via Facebook

  • Phil Robertson’s ‘Duck Dynasty’ Suspension is Lifted

    Duck Dynasty fans were “happy, happy, happy” to hear the news that A&E decided to lift Phil Robertson’s suspension from the popular show this evening. Just over a week after the network suspended Robertson indefinitely for remarks he made on homosexuality in a GQ interview, it appears that the A&E execs have come to realize that there is no Duck Dynasty without Phil Robertson.

    As you likely remember, Robertson made what many consider to be crude comments regarding homosexuality during the interview. In the first part of the interview, Robertson 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? But hey, sin: It’s not logical, my man. It’s just not logical.”

    After making those comments, Robertson was asked for his take on modern sin and offered up his Biblical perspective. “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,” Robertson said.

    It didn’t take long for many groups, including GLAAD, to threaten to boycott A&E if they didn’t reconsider their ties with Robertson. Hours later, Robertson’s suspension was announced, which created quite the backlash. Facebook pages, including one that had more than 1 million fans, were created to support Robertson, plus a petition was started that garnered more than 250,000 signatures. Duck Dynasty fans made it very clear that they would boycott the show and A&E if they didn’t bring back the Robertson family patriarch.

    Nine days after the interview went viral, A&E released a statement saying that Robertson’s suspension was lifted and that he would be included in the filming of future episodes of the show. Check out the statement below.

    As a global media content company, A+E Networks’ core values are centered around creativity, inclusion and mutual respect. We believe it is a privilege for our brands to be invited into people’s homes, and we operate with a strong sense of integrity and deep commitment to these principles.

    That is why we reacted so quickly and strongly to a recent interview with Phil Robertson. While Phil’s comments made in the interview reflect his personal views based on his own beliefs and his own personal journey, he and his family have publicly stated they regret the “coarse language” he used and the misinterpretation of his core beliefs based only on the article. He also made it clear he would “never incite or encourage hate.” We at A+E Networks expressed our disappointment with his statements in the article and reiterate that they are not views we hold.

    But Duck Dynasty is not a show about one man’s views. It resonates with a large audience because it is a show about family … a family that America has come to love. As you might have seen in many episodes, they come together to reflect and pray for unity, tolerance and forgiveness. These are three values that we at A+E Networks also feel strongly about.

    So after discussions with the Robertson family, as well as consulting with numerous advocacy groups, A&E has decided to resume filming Duck Dynasty later this spring with the entire Robertson family.
    We will also use this moment to launch a national public service campaign (PSA) promoting unity, tolerance and acceptance among all people, a message that supports our core values as a company and the values found in Duck Dynasty. These PSAs will air across our entire portfolio.

    Even though Robertson is no longer suspended from the show, some fans still aren’t happy. Many fans considered the suspension an attack on Robertson’s religious beliefs and think that a war on free speech is being waged. Louisiana governor Bobby Jindal made a few posts on Twitter about the situation.

    Duck Dynasty has had strong ratings in its time on A&E, so it will be interesting to see what ratings look like in the coming weeks. Will the show continue to have strong ratings or will this controversy drive fans away? The season premiere of Duck Dynasty is slated for January 15, so we’ll know soon enough.

    Image via YouTube

  • Phil Robertson Buys Wife Wedding Ring After 50 Years

    Phil Robertson, the controversial star of “Duck Dynasty” who was recently suspended from the show, showed off the Christmas gift he bought for his wife in a photo that his granddaughter posted to Twitter.

    “After 50 years of marriage Papaw Phil finally gave Mamaw Kay a wedding ring for Christmas,” granddaughter Sadie Robertson tweeted earlier this week.

    Robertson and his family have been the subject of many headlines this month after an interview with GQ was published and quickly went viral. Robertson spoke his mind on several topics, including homosexuality, and his comments were not taken lightly by members and supporters of the LGBT community. Soon after, A&E made the decision to suspend Robertson indefinitely from the show and issued an apology to viewers. It’s not clear at this time whether the family will continue on with the show without the patriarch.

    “It seems like, to me, a vagina — as a man — would be more desirable than a man’s anus,” Robertson said in the interview. “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? But hey, sin: It’s not logical, my man. It’s just not logical…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.”

    Recently, a petition was started to have Robertson reinstated on the show, and a link to the petition was disabled on Twitter after some confusion about whether or not it was spam. However, it’s back up under the hashtag #IStandWithPhil. The petition already has over 250,000 signatures.

    Image via Twitter