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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsA&E calls off 'Duck Dynasty' suspension
Money talks, bullshit quacks.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/tv/2013/12/27/duck-dynasty-ae-phil-robertson-controversy/4224507/
A&E calls off 'Duck Dynasty' suspension
Gary Levin, USA TODAY 5:53 p.m. EST December 27, 2013
Phil Robertson will film new episodes of A&E hit series
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 Commander duck-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 -- 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 Networks expressed 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 filming Duck Dynasty later this spring with the entire Robertson family."
An already 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
Arkansas Granny
(31,517 posts)villager
(26,001 posts)n/t
Vashta Nerada
(3,922 posts)blkmusclmachine
(16,149 posts)yeoman6987
(14,449 posts)I think they did this for a business reason. I don't know a single person in my liberal large group that watched Duck Dynasty. I am sure that the bulk of their viewers are right wing so they had the choice of putting the show with Phil or canceling the entire thing. With the money that A&E makes off the show, I can't imagine that canceling was an option.
Incitatus
(5,317 posts)They usually use the fiduciary responsibility to the stockholders excuse.
blkmusclmachine
(16,149 posts)the idiots, bigots, and racists who lap up programs like DD. A clear signal that A&E is in real decline, from a liberal/progressive viewpoint. Is Rupert Murdoch in control over there?!?!
asjr
(10,479 posts)A&E with her cake pan and "N" words. There would have been no problem.
leeroysphitz
(10,462 posts)Tx4obama
(36,974 posts)Jenoch
(7,720 posts)The episodes that will start in January have been in the can for quite some time already and production of new episodes are not scheduled to start in the spring. If I were them, I would have waited until things cooled off and something else was in the headlines.
babylonsister
(171,066 posts)'journalists' are off, maybe they think this story will sink. I'm thinking they're wrong.
Jenoch
(7,720 posts)But if I were making the decision, I would have waited because I think making the announcement now will just stir up shit that does not need to be stirred. Then again, by making the announcement now, there is a lobg time for things to die down. I guess I just answered my own question.
bigdarryl
(13,190 posts)There were more racist hicks coming out of the wood works defending this shit to the point they even threatened A&E.A progressive does something and we throw our own under the bus.When was the last time a person from FOX NEWS was suspended or fired.MSNBC is suspending or firing someone who mainly is progressive every year
rdharma
(6,057 posts)Who would have ever thought this was an intentionally and carefully calculated public media affairs event playing to the RW redneck racist base?
Wake up, folks!
indie9197
(509 posts)to boost ratings. It worked I guess.?