Culture

GLAAD slams decision to reinstate suspended Duck Dynasty star

Dec 28 2013
Written by Joseph McCormick

LGBT rights organisation GLAAD has spoken out to condemn A&E network’s reinstatement of Duck Dynasty personality Phil Roberson who was suspended for making homophobic comments in an interview.

US reality star Phil Robertson, who was recently suspended from his TV show after making controversial anti-gay comments, and comments about African Americans in an interview with GQ magazine, was on Friday reinstated.

Interviewed for the January issue of GQ, Robertson said he could not understand why a man would choose to sleep with another man, instead of a woman.

“There’s more there! She’s got more to offer. I mean, come on, dudes! You know what I’m saying?” he said. “But hey, sin: it’s not logical, my man. It’s just not logical”.

GLAAD has responded to the decision to reinstate Robertson to warn against choosing ratings over gay and African American viewers.

“Phil Robertson should look African-American and gay people in the eyes and hear about the hurtful impact of praising Jim Crow laws and comparing gay people to terrorists,” the organisation said in a statement.

“If dialogue with Phil is not part of next steps then A&E has chosen profits over African-American and gay people – especially its employees and viewers.”

US Baptist minister Jesse Jackson also spoke out to say that, despite being reinstated by his network, Duck Dynasty star Phil Robertson should be “more repentant and contrite”.