UPDATE: Robertson Family Release Statement Saying "No Phil, No Show.
We want to thank all of you for your prayers and support. The family has spent much time in prayer since learning of A&E's decision. We want you to know that first and foremost we are a family rooted in our faith in God and our belief that the Bible is His word. While some of Phil's unfiltered comments to the reporter were coarse, his beliefs are grounded in the teachings of the Bible. Phil is a Godly man who follows what the Bible says are the greatest commandments: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart" and "Love your neighbor as yourself." Phil would never incite or encourage hate. We are disappointed that Phil has been placed on hiatus for expressing his faith, which is his constitutionally protected right. 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.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The A&E channel says "Duck Dynasty" patriarch Phil Robertson is off the show indefinitely after condemning gays as sinners in a magazine interview.
In a statement Wednesday, A&E said it was extremely disappointed to read Robertson's comments in GQ magazine.
His beliefs are personal and don't reflect the views of A&E or the show itself, the channel said.
Robertson has been placed on an indefinite hiatus from filming the hit reality show, which follows a colorful Louisiana family that manufactures duck calls. "Duck Dynasty" has set cable ratings records for a non-fiction series.
In the interview in the January issue of GQ, Robertson put gays into the company of others who are sinners, including adulterers and swindlers:
What, in your mind, is sinful?
"Start with homosexual behavior and just morph out from there. Bestiality, sleeping around with this woman and that woman and that woman and those men," he says. Then he paraphrases Corinthians: "Don't be deceived. Neither the adulterers, the idolaters, the male prostitutes, the homosexual offenders, the greedy, the drunkards, the slanderers, the swindlers — they won't inherit the kingdom of God. Don't deceive yourself. It's not right."
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