Commentary by Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
A massive backlash is growing on the Internet and social media against A&E for suspending popular Duck Dynasty patriarch Phil Robertson from the hit show because of comments he made about homosexuality.
The uproar started yesterday when comments Robertson made during an interview with GQ were published. In the interview, he said it was not “logical” for a man to desire a man over a woman, and said homosexuality was a sin.
He went on to quote 1 Corinthians 6:9-10: “Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.”
These comments brought a swift rebuke from the gay activist crowd who threatened to go after A&E’s advertisers if they didn’t punish Robertson.
“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,” GLAAD [formerly Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation] spokesperson Wilson Cruz told E! News in a statement. “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.”
Cruz adds, “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.”
A&E responded by rushing out a statement distancing themselves from the Duck Commander’s views: “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.”
Within hours, they caved to the “politically correct” crowd and took the additional step of suspending Robertson from his own TV show.
Even some high-profile politicians are weighing in about the unfairness and undisguised hypocrisy of all this. As Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal (R) said of his famous constituents:
“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.”
Fox News‘ Todd Starnes took aim at A&E with both barrells: “A&E is apparently run by a bunch of anti-Christian bigots. Duck Dynasty worships God. A&E worships GLAAD [Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation]. If Phil had been twerking with a duck the network probably would’ve given him a contract extension. But because he espoused beliefs held by many Christians, he’s been silenced.
Meanwhile, Duck Dynasty fans are burning up cyberspace with their outrage over the suspension. Support for Robertson is raging on Twitter under the hashtag #StandWithPhil and #A&E is trending at number six worldwide. Even more telling is #BoycottA&E which gained nearly 10,000 followers in a matter of hours.
Judging from the reader comments I have been perusing on various sites, not even the pro-homosexual crowd is impressed by the bullying techniques of gay activists and A&E’s cowardly cave.
For instance, Kelly Kramb responded to Variety’s story by writing: “I have a gay son who I love more than life itself. I am openly proud and in support of him living a happy, productive life and I am deeply offended that this man has been punished for speaking about his own opinion. Being born gay is no different than being fat or thin, black or white- it is what it is! Everyone is entitled to state their opinion, gay or straight. This is not a sexual issue, this is a constitutional issue. If Phil Robertson was gay and spoke about being gay in this interview he would NOT be suspended or fired. Tolerance and understanding is a two way street. Folks if we don’t stop this hypersensitive behavior we will no longer be a free society.”
Bottom line is that A&E is shooting itself in the foot by clinging to its phony tolerance schtick. How much sense does it make to forsake the hottest reality TV show of all time just to keep a few “PC sensitive” sponsors who are actually dumb enough not to stop advertising during Duck Dynasty?
There is much more to this story and it’s only going to get more interesting from here!
UPDATE: In less than 12 hours, the Facebook page “Boycott A&E Until Phil Robertson is Put Back on Duck Dynasty” now has 676,000 likes.
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