Article archive / January 1, 2014
Originally published: . Volume 5, No. 5. Source pages: 3.
Governor Jindal Comments Popular Duckman Draws Criticism And a Line in Sand With Comments
The popular personality on A&E’s Duck Dynasty, family patriarch Phil Robertson, came under criticism for his comments to a GQ Magazine reporter last month. Duck Dynasty is a show filmed in West Monroe, Louisiana, and is the number one rated reality show.
The comments prompted the gay rights group GLAAD (formerly Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) to complain to the A&E Network about the comments. GLAAD’s Director of News, Ross Murray, wrote on the website, “GQ Magazine’s profile of Phil Roberston included some of the vilest and most extreme statements uttered against LGBT people in a main- stream publication.”
GQ had quoted Robertson as saying, “It seems like, to me, a vagina–as a man–would be more desirable than a man’s anus.” Also, Robertson included homosexuality with adultery, prostitution, and bestiality, saying these behaviors would keep people from inheriting the kingdom of God.
A&E “suspended” Robertson indefinitely. This caused an outcry from the show’s fans. Religious and conservative groups accused A&E of attacking Christian values and free speech.
In a statement posted on the Duck Commander website, Willie Robertson confirmed the Robertsons’ support of Phil, saying that while some of his comments were “coarse,” Phil’s beliefs are grounded in the Bible, not hate.
Willie Robertson also said, “…as a family, we cannot imagine the show going forward without our patriarch at the helm.”
Phil Robertson defended his comments as coming from the Bible and said he would not back off from his “path.”
On Dec 19, Gov. Jindal released a statement about the suspension, titled, “I Remember When TV Networks Believed in 1st Amendment.”
Jindal said, “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. I don’t agree with quite a bit of stuff I read in magazine interviews or see on TV. In fact, come to think of it, I find a good bit of it offensive. But I also acknowledge that this is a free country and everyone is entitled to express their views. In fact, I remember when TV networks believed in the First Amendment. It is a messed up situation when Miley Cyrus gets a laugh, and Phil Robertson gets suspended "
On December 27, A&E reversed their decision and lifted the suspension. Governor Jindal released a statement, “Today is a Good Day for the Freedoms of Speech and Religious Liberty”
“I am glad to hear that the folks at A&E came to their senses and recognized that tolerance of religious views is more important than political correctness. Today is a good day for the freedoms of speech and religious liberty.”
“The left is going to have to get accustomed to the fact that it does not have a monopoly on free speech and is not the only group who is permitted to voice its opinion in the public square. The left may control Hollywood, but they don’t control the hearts and minds of a majority of Americans.”
Phil Robertson (center) at family dinner. His comments drew criticism and a suspension from A&E, which was later reversed. About the reversal, Governor Jindal said “Today is a good day for the freedoms of speech and religious liberty.” Photo by Zach Dilgard. Courtesy of A&E.
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