A&E and the Robertsons make bank with marketing gimmick.
A&E has ducked away from a controversy surrounding the stars of its hugely popular reality series Duck Dynasty.
The network issued a statement late Friday backing off from its previously announced suspension of Phil Robertson, the patriarch of the clan behind the successful Louisiana-based Duck Commanderduck-calling business. The suspension was triggered by Robertson’s interview with GQ, published last week, in which he made anti-gay statements, which he said reflected his religious beliefs.
The interview sparked protests from human-rights groups, and led to A&E’s quick decision to suspend Robertson from future episodes. But that action also triggered a backlash from some Dynasty fans, who tried to organize a boycott of the network, collecting 250,000 petitions — and Robertson’s own family, which suggested it would not be willing to keep filming the series without him.
In a statement, the network cited its “core values” of “inclusion and mutual respect” to explain why “we reacted so quickly and strongly.” “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 Networksexpressed our disappointment with his statements in the article, and reiterate that they are not views we hold.”
The statement then offered some wiggle room: “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,” the statement said. “After discussions with the Robertson family, as well as consulting with numerous advocacy groups, A&E has decided to resume filmingDuck Dynasty later this spring with the entire Robertson family.”
A mostly completed 10-episode season will begin airing Jan. 15, with all of the Robertsons featured. The new episodes, scheduled to be shot this spring, will air later next year.
Duck is the No. 2 series on cable TV, behind The Walking Dead, and ranks among the top 30 of all TV shows with an average of 13.4 million viewers. It’s a also a merchandising phenomenon, as a top seller at Wal Mart. And a holiday album, Duck the Halls: Christmas with the Robertsons, has sold 700,000 copies since its release in late October, says Nielsen SoundScan.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/tv/2013/12/27/duck-dynasty-ae-phil-robertson-controversy/4224507/
Five thumbs down for those duck dynasty guys and A and E. I don`t like em from what I have seen about them pukes on the comercials about them. that pumkin that they blast with a shot gun would have been better put to use in a pumkin pie instead of sayin “this is how ya carve a pumkin” well F U duck dynasty pukes, you all suck – duck dynasty guys – and I doubt that you all would be liked by many from where I am from.
Well lets see,..the guy is pro family values.
He is pro America the Const. and Firearms
Hates big govt.
Seems he also hates pumpkins…..wow
And also got hooked on the popularity tit…Spell that big TV money…Probably their biggest mistake.
But These men Stand for what they believe in…and they do it in a PUBLIC arena…for better or for worse……thats an AMERICAN and I might not agree with him in all things…..but I’d stand to support him or even stand with him…
But to call him a fuc-n puke that sux…I mean c’mon …WTF?
I dont follow your line of thinking here? Is there a MOLD everybody has to fit before they are accepted as an AMERICAN NATIONAL ?
We are a big old country with many many differant views on life..
What give gives bro?…what gives you the right to pass judgement on somebody you dont even know? The old saying goes far…”walk a mile in their shoes before you criticize and accuse”
Help me out here digger…….what are you really saying my friend.
And BTW….i don’t watch TV so I cant comment on the show…….but I have read several articles ( some before…some after this event)…about them…..some good some bad……..but the common theme I saw was they didnt waiver in their beliefs. That left an impression with me.
I refuse to judge a man i NEVER MET…….but as far as a tv show goes…well aint all TV just gimmick.
Yes oldvet, tv is just a gimmik. I wish it would go back to more simple and honest times – ya know like when Barney was only given one bulet for his gun and the leo`s didn`t want to bust every one just to fill their quota.
poor old Barney always got his bullet taken back by Andy……:)
Yeah good old day digger……wonder if these duck boys lay in the bed at night wishin it was simple again? Wishin they never heard of the A&E ya know?
They are in a fishbowl now.
Yea oldvet, I know. every one is grabbing at straws and getting no where. God I wish I could fix the prob.s that they/society created. They realy do hate people like me oldvet. :(:
Well I love your old yankee ass brother….and we all get as frusterfocked with sheit as you do.
Yeah….on the fixin them problems!!
Hang tight bro! 🙂
And he is also a multi million air, and getting paid big bucks to do what he is doing. 😐 He reminds me of a damned politicion damnit 🙁
well he is now…..lets see what it does to him
I like them, and I don’t think that it was a scam to make money, and doesn’t everyone carve pumpkins that way
You can’t be serious Smilardog. These Duck Dynasty guys and A+E are laughing all the way to the bank.
Seems that the rich seem to waste food that some others could use and may need.
F-ck D-ck Stupidity….
And the great deception continues as this non-story is still in the headlines.
I love how a&e is now starting a national campaign to teach acceptance and tolerance of gays.
It sure is a lot of energy wasted on a TV show.
I watched 2- 5 minute pieces of the show while on the road.
It was garbage. It is no better than the other garbage on the boob tube.
That is right Bullwinkle. The sheeple wlll always excuse themselves fron reality by this kind of crap, and then they will defend it. I just can`t wait to see what they will start doing when they start getting that 40 cal. up side the noggin if I am still alive here in this life 😐
Instead of gun grabbing….they need to confiscate the TV’s. Thats whats killing America…..