A&E Caves: Duck Dynasty's Phil and family reunited.

[Danno 1,228]

D

Danno was right again.

While it is a stinging defeat for the Gay Lobby, it is a victory for anyone who values freedom.

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A&E Welcomes Phil Robertson Back to 'Duck Dynasty'

Less than two weeks after his anti-gay remarks prompted an "indefinite hiatus" for the reality patriarch — and a strong fan backlash — the network says he will remain on the series.

Phil Robertson, the patriarch of A&E's Duck Dynasty clan who was suspended from his hit reality series on Dec. 18 following some incendiary comments about gay people, won't be put on hiatus after all.

The network and the Robertson family announced Friday that Phil will still be part of the series -- and since he didn't miss any filming, his temporary suspension will have no effect on the upcoming fifth season.

An A&E statement to The Hollywood Reporter read:

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 home and we operate with a strong sense of integrity and deep commitment to these principals.

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 mis-interpretation 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.

In addition, an A&E source says the family and the network are going to work together to promote tolerance moving forward.

Robertson's comments in GQ magazine, which included the 67-year-old likening homosexuality to "bestiality," prompted an almost immediate announcement from A&E.

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"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," read a network statement at the time. "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."

A&E's swift reaction to the comments, praised by some, prompted objections from many fans of the show. Prior to his reinstatement, a petition started by Christian fans gathered north of 200,000 signatures demanding he be put back on the series. Robertson and the rest of his family have stood by the controversial comments that prompted the media furor, putting the future of A&E's top-rated series in question.

On Sunday, Robertson delivered a sermon at his West Monroe, La., church. "I will not give or back off from my path," he told the crowd -- though he did seem to soften a bit, adding "I love all men and women. I am a lover of humanity, not a hater."

The political fallout has also been significant. Following initial calls to action from GLAAD, people from both side of the political spectrum have weighed in on Robertson's comments and suspension. It's been a popular topic of debate on Fox News, and Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal was among the first to come to Robertson's defense.

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The Robertsons' somewhat vague initial reaction to Phil's removal -- "we cannot imagine the show going forward without our patriarch at the helm" -- prompted many to suggest that the cast would not continue filming. But the Robertsons also recently re-signed to stay onboard A&E's top-rated series. After settling a months-long salary standoff in August, A&E signed the entire Robertson clan to a multiyear deal worth more than $200,000 per episode.

For its part, A&E did little else in the wake of Robertson's comments than the initial suspension. Encores of the series have continued to air, including a marathon on Christmas Day, and canceling or delaying the Jan. 15 season-five premiere never seemed to be on the table.

Duck Dynasty is a huge asset for A&E. In addition to being the top-rated reality program on cable, second across all of cable to only The Walking Dead with an average 13.4 million viewers and 7.6 million adults 18-49 in live-plus-7 ratings, Duck Dynasty has multiple brand tie-ins. Duck Dynasty gear is available in retailers across the U.S., including Walmart, Sears and Cracker Barrel restaurants.

The entire Robertson family has been on hiatus for duck hunting season, a contractual stipulation, which continues through Jan. 26 in their native Louisiana.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/a-e-welcomes-phil-robertson-667647

Edited December 27, 2013 by Danno

[GandD 5,966]

This was never about freedom. It was about the choices of a private companies marketing strategy. The government was not involved with this at any point. They pulled him from the show because they thought his views would alienate audiences. They were wrong, people got mad, they put it back.

At what point, specifically, during this entire ordeal, were anyone's first amendment rights in question from the government? If I call my openly gay boss a godless sodomite and he fires me, was it a first amendment thing or a bad judgement thing?

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Dannos ego is larger than his knackers

[Sarah Elle-Même 660]

Even a horse's a** knew this would be the outcome, so congratulations?

The fact that shows like this are as popular as they are really to me signals the end of civilization. We're bloody doomed folks.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

The fact that shows like this are as popular as they are really to me signals the end of civilization. We're bloody doomed folks.

[himher 634]

Considering the 90+% disagreement with A&E's decision to ####### all over someone's rights to express their opinion I guess they did the sensible thing.

The duck hunting industry will somehow have to pick up the pieces and survive without their 'vast crowds' of gay supporters. Like Chick-fil-A had to do. I would guess it is probably in the long-term more profitable to target families whose children will become future customers than it is to target a few people who will eliminate their gene pool anyway.

Gayness and acceptance of gayness might be being forced down our throats, but as of last reporting gays were 2% of the population, accounted for 78% of new HIV infections in the US, and gay males currently have an hiv incidence rate of 8%. Summary: For every group of 12 gays, 1 is infected with HIV. This can only demonstrate that this is a group who does not care about themselves and each other and are willing to and even cheerful about risking their lives and the lives of others and as such they do not warrant the rest of us caring about them and what they think they have the right to do.

When gays as a whole demonstrate responsible behavior and maintain responsible lifestyles then they will have earned the right to main-stream acceptance. 30 years after the consequences of their irresponsible lifestyles were identified they have not changed their behaviour at all.

Small wonder at the backlash. A&E did the smart thing.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Freedom is not a bearded bigot who hates gays. Jeez get a melonfarming life!

Edited December 28, 2013 by Papa Lazarou

[himher 634]

Freedom is not a bearded bigot who hates gays. Jeez get a melonfarming life!

No actions of all groups of non-gays combined could possibly equal the destruction of lives and health of gays more than the gays themselves.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

That makes no more sense than if you jizzed in your hand and rubbed it over the screen.

Edited December 28, 2013 by Papa Lazarou

[himher 634]

That makes no more sense than if you jizzed in your hand and rubbed it over the screen.

Off-topic again? That makes about 100% of the time, more or less. Good job!

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

You're putting in more effort than I am. By a fair margin

[Sarah Elle-Même 660]

Considering the 90+% disagreement with A&E's decision to ####### all over someone's rights to express their opinion I guess they did the sensible thing.

I guess some people never learn even if you beat it into their skulls with a crowbar. The bearded swamp trash fudgenut got suspended because he made his bosses at the TV network look bad. Notice he did not go to jail for speaking his mind. That is what the constitution guarantees, for the most part. You do not do anything to piss off your employer and get away with it, not under our pro-business anti-worker system. Nearly everyone is on at-will employment. You can thank all the sniveling, shite eating, corrupt politicians in Congress and State Legislatures who slithered "at will", "right to work", and other employer rights legislation into law in the last four decades. Y'all are just mad because someone you agree with happened to get rammed a bit by A&E. But the #######-blasting didn't last long. Luckily for you this guy's garbage show is a goddamn cash cow and the only thing that really talks in this country is MONEY.

This is not to say I agreed with the suspension. Mere homophobic ideology is small potatoes compared to the grand scheme of that nuclear train wreck of a "television" show. Most television is absolutely mind numbing.

Edited December 28, 2013 by Sarah and Adnan

[himher 634]

I guess some people never learn even if you beat it into their skulls with a crowbar. The bearded swamp trash fudgenut got suspended because he made his bosses at the TV network look bad. Notice he did not go to jail for speaking his mind. That is what the constitution guarantees, for the most part. You do not do anything to piss off your employer and get away with it, not under our pro-business anti-worker system. Nearly everyone is on at-will employment. You can thank all the sniveling, shite eating, corrupt politicians in Congress and State Legislatures who slithered "at will", "right to work", and other employer rights legislation into law in the last four decades. Y'all are just mad because someone you agree with happened to get rammed a bit by A&E. But the #######-blasting didn't last long. Luckily for you this guy's garbage show is a goddamn cash cow and the only thing that really talks in this country is MONEY.

This is not to say I agreed with the suspension. Mere homophobic ideology is small potatoes compared to the grand scheme of that nuclear train wreck of a "television" show. Most television is absolutely mind numbing.

Suspending him made them look worse. Has nothing to do with luck and everything to do with what average people believe is right and wrong.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Average people eh? Christ on crutches

[himher 634]

Average people eh? Christ on crutches

Yes. This has been polled to death.

If you believe that it was right to suspend him from that show for what he said then you are in a minority. Even the MSNBC poll was only 34% for, 66% against, the suspension. Hence the reference to "average".