Friday afternoon is when you announce news you don’t want covered, and Friday afternoon of Christmas week is when you announce news you wish no one will ever hear about. That’s why A&E announced late in the Friday afternoon that upon reflection, it’s okay with “Duck Dynasty” patriarch Phil Robertson’s rampant homophobia because they love the money the program generates more.
Sorry, because “it’s a show about family.”
To recap, in an interview with GQ, Robertson linked homosexuality to bestiality. He also said that the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor because of their Shinto faith and that black people were “singing and happy” in the Jim Crow era.
A&E reacted swiftly to the interview, proclaiming that Robertson’s views “in no way reflect those of A+E Networks.” They suspended Robertson.
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
The network’s “disappointment” dissipated after nine days. During that time, A&E came under fire from the usual suspects on the right, including Sarah Palin. They turned Robertson, who looks like an extra from Deliverance, into the latest Christian martyr.
And now A&E has seen the light — or the ledger. In it’s statement reinstating Robertson, the network says the show isn’t really about Phil Robertson’s views. It’s about “a family that American 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.” The family also comes together to condemn anyone who doesn’t fit their biblical viewpoint, but A&E neglected to mention that.
The network said it consulted with “numerous,” unnamed advocacy groups before deciding to bring Robertson back. The net result of the suspension: Robertson doesn’t miss a single episode of filming.
As a bone to the gay community, Japan, black people and anyone else offended by Robertson, A&E promises to “use this moment to launch a national public service campaign (PSA) promoting unity, tolerance and acceptance among all people.” You’ll be pleased to hear that A&E consider those “our core values.” You’ll be a lot less pleased to hear that it thinks that they are also “the values found in Duck Dynasty.”
Here’s a tip to A&E. Bad news like this travels fast, even on holiday weekends.
litper
It’s no longer A&E, it’s H&B now.
Hate and Bigotry.
Large Marge
Hrm…. the create a media frenzy a week before xmas so all the devout go out and buy Duck gear and merchandise in the name of jeeeezus! Two days after xmas they end his ‘suspension’ after reaping millions in profits.
This was nothing more than a merchandising campaign.
jimbryant
One of the producers of Duck Dynasty is a gay guy. Yep, a gay guy. Gay men are contributing to the oppression of gay men, basically.
Bozen
He’s allowed his opinion, however misinformed or wrong. He isn’t advocating hate or oppression, he’s expressing his own personal belief.
The people who watch this type of show will continue to watch and identify with this type of show, and the people who don’t (all of you queerty people) will continue to not watch and not identify with it.
The world goes on.
Tyler100
@jimbryant:
Speaking of gay men contributing to the oppression of gay men, you’re on this site everyday talking about how horrible effeminate gay men are, how certain gay marriage activists just don’t try hard enough (Australia) and how straight women are the most homophobic population. If that’s not contributing the oppression of your own kind, I don’t know what else is.
Unless you’re not gay at all. And honestly, by the majority of your comments, I’m beginning to suspect you’re not.
DShucking
Get over yourselves, queens. If A&E really felt strongly about what he said they would have fired him instead of suspending him. It’s a business. They only care about the bottom line and this is their biggest hit.
jimbryant
DShucking,
You are exactly 100% right.
Gay men in the production side of show business don’t give a rat’s about us ordinary gay men. They’re in the production side of showbiz to make money. Most of the most homophobic shows on TV have gay male producers.
Memo to the gay male community: if gay male producers could make money out of hanging you, they would.
the other Greg
@jimbryant: How do YOU make money? You obviously don’t have a job because you’re always here! Does somebody pay you to post here?
Dez
Who cares if A&E keeps them! They don’t need to be fired (or petitioned to be fired) because they’re morons! Look at most of reality shows today!
All we can do is counter them and reveal them to be the ignorant, “religious” hypocrites that they are! Nobody should be using the bible to justify disgusting opinions about other human beings. Robertsons comments make it disgustingly clear that he does not understand homosexuality at all, he is just an idiot bible thumper. He (and those that think like him) may not be completely uneducated, but they certainly are not scientists. Any decent scientist would tell you that there is a predisposition to homosexuality so therefore it is natural!!! Comparing it to bestiality is just a way to degrade it— or in the case of the backwoods animal-raping hillbilly duck dynasty type people, may be upgrading it as we know they all probably think about fuvking animals.
vonlmo
That the mainstream media ignored the Jim Crow comments explains why this program is still on the air. Ted Danson wore blackface & his career ended. Mr Robertson could wear a KKK hood but so long as he trashed the gays, the negroes didn’t care.
Fawkes
The typos in this article are just ridiculous. There’s even one in the title for God’s sake.
jimbryant
Yes, it was interesting that the black community leaders did not take umbrage at Phil Robertson’s comments. Where were they? They certainly were not visible.
Blacks need to realize that gay men aren’t going to be lowest in the pecking order. If blacks want our support, they need to show support for us.
Otherwise, the relationship is over.
ouragannyc
conservatives were also more organized to get the show back on tv.
Kieran
This sounds like an A&E publicity stunt to gain attention for their white trash programming. We need to find out who the sponsors of this ‘Duck Dynasty’ hatefest are. Then we need to make sure every gay, lesbian and bisexual consumer in America is aware of who those sponsors are so that they can make a point of boycotting them.
CaptainFabulous
@jimbryant: Pot, meet my friend kettle…
Deepdow
@Bozen:
Wrong. The world does not just go on. This person has formented the sea of hate against gay people and now – we will have to live with this legacy. There will be many gay youths, in those red states, who will commit suicide because of their duck loving parents who hate homos. There will be gay bashings and many forms of bullying. He gave the idiocracy the ammo, the NERVE, to kill. They think they god on their side. It’s a tragedy !
jimbryant
Deepdow,
Why don’t you blame the gay producers of Ducky Dynasty? It’s not just those “evil conservatives” who are responsible for hatred of gay people.
Gay people working at A&E are enablers of religious conservatives. Enablers. You need to go after those enablers if you are to have credibility. Simply whining about it is not going to get you anywhere.
Deepdow
@jimbryant:
I don’t care of the sexual orientation of the producers of that horrid show. OF COURSE YOU ONLY FOCUS ON THE GAY PRODUCER(S)..OF COURSE !
I’m not an idiot you fucking boomer. I know that countless anti-gay thugs are closet cases. I wasn’t born yesterday. I’m not whining you simpering, smoldering sack of shit. I’m observing.
It’s people like you who have created this world.
Divide and conquer eh? You fucking kappo.
hotshot70
I hate the show, and its nothing to do with Phil’s opinions. Its just a redneck version of those damn Kartrashians. I will not watch A&E. And I see yet agin @jimbryant is still posting his brainless drivel.
jimbryant
Deepdow,
Oh, take a tablet. You need it.
As for the producers of Duck Dynasty being closet cases, please, give me a break. They are out, not closeted. There are openly gay men working in Hollywood to undermine gay rights. You shouldn’t blame it all on the closet.
You need to go after the gay producers of Duck Dynasty if you are going to have any credibility.
PRINCE OF SNARKNESS aka DIVKID
This show confuses me. Is Phil meant to be Crystal or Alexis?
PRINCE OF SNARKNESS aka DIVKID
Citation for the producer being gay please
jimbryant
Prince of Snarkiness,
Not only is one of the producers of Duck Dynasty gay, A&E has a number of gay men working in its offices. These people all contribute to the product you see in the form of Duck Dynasty.
Gay men are working to enable homophobes. Sell-out queens, that’s what they are.
Deepdow
@jimbryant:
I’m going to go after the bible, anti-gay troglodytes, YOU, and anyone else who gets in the way of liberty.
You get in the way by demeaning women. You are a part of the problem.
Go fuck yourself oldster.
jimbryant
Deepdow,
You are not for liberty in my view. In fact, I think you’re the opposite. I could be wrong but that’s just the way I feel about it.
Your rants don’t carry intellectual weight, and that’s the problem. You need to recognize the enemy, first, and then form a cogent argument based on that recognition.
I have also pointed out time and again that women are at the heart of many homophobic issues that arise in the world. It’s because they see male homosexuality as a threat to female privilege.
From Maggie Gallagher to the women who complained about the two guys dancing in the country club, it’s obvious. Of course, in your case, the scales have yet to fall from your eyes.
Deepdow
@jimbryant:
You’re just a disgusting anachronistic troglodyte who uses old bias to form opinion and analysis. WOW GOOD FOR FUCKING YOU, YOU’RE PEDESTRIAN.
I’m sorry that your mother, whom you still live with, forces you to watch game shows with her every night. You sick puppy.
PRINCE OF SNARKNESS aka DIVKID
@jimbryant: @jimbryant: The producer (Gurney?) Looking for a citation of him being gay. That is all. Thank you.
Ridpathos
Dunno what you were expecting. Duck Crapysty makes millions for the channel.
They did the minimum they needed to do. Suspend him for a few days as a show of reprimanding so that they aren’t affiliated with his views, and eventually take him back on once the dust had settled a bit.
I don’t think any cable television company would do much more than that.
Volvoguy
The hell with this show, haven’t watch this idiotic show yet, don’t plan on starting.
A&E you guys are making it easier for me to cancel my cable and get an antenna .
jimbryant
Women support their husband’s views. They are not these innocent bystanders.
You can bet your bottom dollar that the women of Duck Dynasty support their husbands’ views, including the ones on the sinfulness of homosexuality.
Take-home message : women are enablers of their husbands’ views.
PRINCE OF SNARKNESS aka DIVKID
@jimbryant:
Do you feel like a modern-day Cassandra, forever fated to ridiculed and disbelieved for telling the truth? Why do you take up such a harsh burden, why continually torture yourself like this? Seems such a lonely and stony road to tread. For all your personal sacrifice of joy and human intimacy what do you hope to accomplish?
Thank you for everything.
Good luck, my hero.
X
Deepdow
@PRINCE OF SNARKNESS aka DIVKID:
You’re drunk or high. He’s not some archaic legend of virtue and heroism. Jim is your standard misogynist who hates his own mother and projects that antipathy back onto all females. He has unresolved personal issues which he must overcome. Thanking him enables him to continue to spoil the conversation and further the idea of misanthropy.
Jesus fucking Christ what is wrong with you people.
jimbryant
Prince of snarkness,
Thank you so much.
I don’t actually mind posts that attack me. I enjoy reading them.
Tackle
@jimbryant: I found myself LMAO at your post around #12 at how ridiculous it is. Jessie Jackson has called out Phil Robertson about his racial and homophobic remarks, and has teamed up with GLAAD & the National Orgainization of women in asking A&E to suspend Phil Robertson indefinately. I’m sure you deliberately missed that so you can have something to rant about. And strange that you only mentioned Black so-called leaders not taking umbrage with Phil about his remarks about gays, and not mentioned anything about, Hispanic, Asian, Middle Eastern leaders or others not taking umbrage and being silent.
And you say that Blacks need to realize gay men aren’t going to be the lowest in the pecking order. ( So are all gay men White?) And about support, No, we don’t want or need “your” support jimbryant. And who made you the spokes person for all gay White men??
And about the relationship being over with you. (If there ever was one). The sooner the better. Good riddance…
PRINCE OF SNARKNESS aka DIVKID
@Deepdow: You don’t understand…REALLY don’t!
He’s just misunderstood!
@jimbryant: You’re welcome, flower.
I’m glad it’s bringing you some happiness. Bless.
Cam
@Bozen: said…
“He’s allowed his opinion, however misinformed or wrong. He isn’t advocating hate or oppression, he’s expressing his own personal belief.
____________________
LOL! Is the right wing still trying this? Um, advocating hate IS an opinion, bigotry IS an opinion, bigotry IS a personal belief. But you know, nice try.
As for this, remember the summary of it. A&E supports racism and the idea that blacks were happier before the civil rights laws and they believe that gays are against nature.
A&E believes that so strongly that they pay somebody who advocates that a huge amount of money to be on their network.
AuntieChrist
Q. How do you circumcize a hillbilly? A. You kick his sister in the chin…Oh gentle word and sweetest said, Oh tender hand and first,To hold the warm delicious bread,to lips burned black with thirst…On a happier note…As long as you girls keep feeding jimbryant IT will keep coming round…I won’t compare IT to an animal…IT is a parasite..Unlike predators, parasites do not kill their host. They are also generally much smaller than their host, and will often live in or on their host for an extended period of time…Social parasites take advantage of interactions between members of social organisms..
hmmm
@jimbryant: Wrong. Even Rev. Jesse Jackson spoke out against this. (See link below). Many blacks and gay blacks (your comment suggest there are none/ignores them) took umbrage. Yet again, you are wholly misinformed.
http://news.yahoo.com/rev-jackson-phil-robertson-39-more-offensive-39-163444371.html?soc_src=mediacontentstory
macmantoo
@Dez: I agree. Who cares what a bigoted redneck says? You’re not going to change their minds and they have a lot same type people following their program. They’re the “Palin mentality” people.
the other Greg
@jimbryant: “I don’t actually mind posts that attack me. I enjoy reading them.”
Except one kind. When someone suggests that you cut your balls off and get it over with.
That just drives you crazy, doesn’t it “jim”?
Because you know, deep down, you really want to do it. Don’t you “jim”?
BWA HA HA HA HA HA.
mrsbuela
I’m gonna write A&E a letter congratulating them for being such staunch supporters of free speech.
I am also going to tell them I expect them to offer Paula Dean a new show, and when one of there shows drops the “N” bomb when referring to Blacks, or when one of their shows uses the “C” word referring to Women, or when one of their shows bashes Jews, Christians, Asians, (add in whatever group you like) I sincerely hope they keep that on the air too – after all, it’s all about free speech.
AmberMakitos
My Uncle Andrew recently got a fantastic silver Nissan Sentra just by parttime work from a home pc… you could look here…… http://clockurl.com/Bc9
bobbyjoe
A&E is cynically betting that GLBTs and their allies don’t make up much of the audience for Duck Dynasty. And they’re probably right.
For A&E, hate and racism can be dismissed as long as it makes money. So here’s how to hit A&E where it hurts. Duck Dynasty isn’t going to be a lasting thing. It may have high-ratings now, but the novelty of the show isn’t going to last for years and years.
A&E has ambitions, though, of becoming like FX, AMC, and HBO with shows like “Bates Motel” that aim to have credibility and critical acclaim. These are the shows we dump. This is the area we don’t help A&E establish. Ever. No positive coverage on GLBT sites. No recommendations to our friends. Nothing that will in any way help or encourage the ratings for those shows. Have people post the advertisers for those shows and tell them we’re not watching because they’re on a network that lets racism and ugly anti-gay behavior slide. Bigoted religious conservatives aren’t the audiences for those shows. It’s people like us.
See, Duck Dynasty is a short-term win for A&E. It’s one show with a limited shelf-life. But the strategy of establishing buzz-worthy dramatic cred– well, that could lead to multiple shows, multiple projects, and longer term success. Heck, I even like “Bates Motel,” particularly Vera Farmiga. But it– and everything else on A&E– is permanently off my list. (if I want over-the-top fun horror, I can always watch the superior American Horror Story (with Farmiga’s sister) on FX instead, since it even criticizes racism and homophobia ).
So goodbye A&E, “Bates Motel,” etc. Permanently. And next time A&E pours money into trying to establish a beachhead on FX, AMC, and HBO territory, well, too damn bad. You’ll get no help here. I hope others feel the same. I suggest a campaign titled “A&E SPELLS BIGOTRY” that we spread all over the net. Anybody who’s good at coming up with an emblem, please have at it.
HeroQueero
@bobbyjoe Well put! I second that!
TomMc
Relax people: Mr. Robertson said nothing negative about Obama’s Zionist buddies, nor did he draw a cartoon of you-know-who.
evasymone
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RdVudO6xwvU&feature=youtu.be
jimbryant
The other Greg ,
Still bitter about having a mangina, are you?
glitterbang
Friends—let’s all take comfort in the possibility that Robertson and his clan of duck warblers will be Raptured up into the heavens sooner (rather than later), leaving the heathen lot of us here on earth to do as we please.
Cam
A&E supports removal of civil rights from blacks and the opinion that gays are an abomination.
They are paying somebody who is advocating those positions publicly.
A&E supports racism and bigotry.
the other Greg
@jimbryant: Cut your balls off. They are an endless temptation toward bad behavior! You don’t have any women around to “shame” you into good behavior.
According to you.
the other Greg
@jimbryant: I realize you’re a virgin and you have a tenuous understanding of human anatomy, so I’m not entirely sure what you are imagining when you say “mangina.”
But I’m guessing mine is in back? And yeah, nothing has ever been up there without a condom on it. Oh right, you’re a virgin so you wouldn’t know about stuff like that. You’re imagining “glistening intestines” and so on.
Well I’d like to see someone stick something into your glistening intestines but it ain’t my d1ck. Eww!
And btw, those testicle things below your d1ck? Cut them off. With a rusty kitchen knife. You know you want to. BWA HA HA HA HA HA.
AuntieChrist
@the other Greg: I love it when he who must not be named thinks that he she or it is clever…Is mangina even a word..?
the other Greg
@AuntieChrist: Ann Coulter uses “mangina” as a word but he’s a virgin too.
I assume that’s where he who must not be named got the word.
nf0603
@the other Greg:
Good luck at getting an answer from Jimbryant. He still has yet to answer a question I posed him TWO WEEKS AGO when he was on an anti-diva rant. Really… asking someone to just cough up five artists he DOES like shouldn’t be a hard answer but he dodged it and never answered it. He’s just a troll who is probably a straight conservative Christian posing as the worst sort of gay stereotype they can think of. Because he never responds to questions when asked.
krystalkleer
F*CK THE DUCK!…don’t tune in people and they will get their buck shot between their eyes…period!
AuntieChrist
@krystalkleer: How stupid are you? A&E has run non-stop back to back episodes of duck DIE NASTY. Turd for brain..We are not the demographic they seek. Grow up and quit hawking your stupid blog. No one cares. Well we would if it was the least bit creative. R U GAY…? Cause I got more talent in my deformed pinky toe.
AuntieChrist
@krystalkleer: SNAP