A few updates to my post yesterday on the suspension of Duck Dynasty’s Phil Robertson.
The Robertson family has released a statement, concluding with:
We have had a successful working relationship with A&E but, as a family, we cannot imagine the show going forward without our patriarch at the helm. We are in discussions with A&E to see what that means for the future of Duck Dynasty. Again, thank you for your continued support of our family.
Here’s the thing: Season 4 is basically done filming, so we’re talking about the future of the show. Although the above says “we are in discussions,” that we includes the family’s agents, William Morris. They may play rednecks on TV, but they’re playing the Hollywood game as well as any.
Video has surfaced of other controversial statements by Robertson on gays from before A&E hired him to star in Duck Dynasty. In other words, A&E knew what they were getting. And if they knew about his past, I want to see how his contract was written that allows A&E to suspend him over Robertson basically playing himself on a “reality” show.
And if you’re on Twitter, do check out the feed of TMZ’s Harvey Levin, who has some choice words to say about A&E’s actions.
One final point to make about A&E, they’re still running Duck Dynasty episodes. A lot of them.
Like I wrote yesterday, this is, at its heart, a contract matter and it looks like A&E needs Duck Dynasty much more than Duck Dynasty needs A&E. Stay tuned for what comes next.