Andy DehnartA&E has placed Duck Dynasty patriarch Phil Robertson on “hiatus from filming indefinitely” as a result of his comments to GQ that equated gay people with “drunks, terrorists” and compared gayness to bestiality.
A&E said in a statement:
“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. The network has placed Phil under hiatus from filming indefinitely.”
That’s resulted in some swift reaction: GLAAD is thrilled (“A&E has sent a strong message that discrimination is neither a Christian nor an American value”), while on Twitter, many people are making it clear they support Phil Robertson.
Phil responded to the suspension, telling People:
“My mission today is to go forth and tell people about why I follow Christ and also what the Bible teaches, and part of that teaching is that women and men are meant to be together. However, I would never treat anyone with disrespect just because they are different from me. We are all created by the Almighty and like Him, I love all of humanity.”