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

[WestVirginiaRebel]

Hollywood Reporter:

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.

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Beards 1, censors zip.

 

[righteousmomma]

We both say: "TOO Funny!!"

[Valin]

Democratic Underground They are not happy campers.

MFM008 (1,201 posts)
4. cowards

why does everyone cave to right wing assholes yet we lose everytime. Keith, Cenk,Martin, everyone. Say one wrong word as a progressive you gone in 60 seconds. Be some sort of back wash, back water grit garggling, toilet water drinking, s^#@ stained,squirrel eating, neanderthal, racist, bigot, inbred, wanna be hillbilly and spew hate and stir up the bottom of the barrel gun ,sucking morons and you are fine....no problem...... A&E you SUCK.



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Feel The Love!

[WestVirginiaRebel]

Happy, happy, happy...

[Valin]

A&E Admits it Ducked Up

[Valin]

Our Long National Nightmare Is Only Warming Up, Im Afraid

Ed Driscoll

December 27th, 2013

 

A&E reverses course, allows Duck Dynasty patriarch Phil Robertson to rejoin his own show. But as Ace notes, Robertson only gets to speak his mind without punishment because he has millions of fans. The rest of us are not so fortunate:

 

 

Our current social understanding of free speech is this: You can speak your mind freely if you have a large enough army of supporters to pressure a company into resisting pressure from a large army of Speech Police.

 

This is not free speech. This is free speech as an exceptional thing only for those with a wide, passionate following not as a routine thing.

 

A&E is a cowardly organization. First it puts Robertson on indefinite hiatus under pressure from one group of people, then it puts him back on the air because theyve been pressured by a somewhat larger group of people.

 

At no point did they trip over anything resembling a general principle of speech free from consequences of broad application.

While starring in a reality show, Robertsons reality in terms of dealing with the legacy media isnt that far removed from a star or producer who waits until his career has sufficient critical mass before coming out as a conservative, a la Kelsey Grammer or Jon Voight.

 

(Snip)

 

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Cliffnotes version: While this is a good thing, if you work for a (large) Corp.,.....Watch What You Say.

[Valin]

'Duck Dynasty' supporters and critics respond to star's reinstatement, say they will watch A&E's next moves.

 

As word spread of 'Duck Dynasty' star Phil Robertson's reinstatement on the show Friday following his suspension over statements about homosexuality, fans and foes of the move made their views known.

 

(Snip)

 

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What we see with this is a classic example why in the past large organizations went out of there way to be non-controversial. A&E now could very well find themselves in a no win situation....and they have no one to blame but themselves.