HAHAHAHA PALIN. OH BOY. And yeah, I know it won't either, but sometimes it's worth it to get them all riled up haha.

People seriously defending this over FREE SPEECH are idiots though. The first amendment was not violated. He's not in jail. He obviously could say what he wanted, seeing as he did. But free speech still has consequences. What they are really defending is the right to to insult people because they do not agree with their lifestyle.

That is really well put. Freedom of Speech doesn't mean you have the freedom to offend people.

I watched the show because I thought it was funny the situations the boys would get themselves into, for me it was just a goofy comedy show where idiots got themselves in trouble due to lack of planning or common sense. Now I can't watch it anymore because I can't support the racism and homophobia that's coming out though I'm honestly not surprised to see it, that's the Christian South for you, love thy neighbor unless thy neighbor is in any way different then it's perfectly alright to maliciously attack them. And I'm glad A&E is taking action against them.

Good for A&E stepping up to the plate against hate, even if they are doing it just to preserve their image.

ahh thank you subeta. Some of my facebook friends were making me angry with their "freedom of speech!" posts. Yes, you are allowed to say what you want, that doesn't mean there are no consequences though.

So tired of people getting mad and spouting "freedom of speech!" about all of the hateful things people say as if that's means you can't say or do anything about it.

I'm sorry to hear that you were bullied. That's something no one should ever have to go through. That's why I am happy some places and people are trying to help put a stop to it. It'd be great if one day someone has to ask what bully was because it doesn't happen anymore. However, with the way a lot of people are and the fact that some people let bullying run rampant because "kids/people need to grow thicker skin", I don't see it happening anytime soon. :(

Thanks. It was rough but I made it through. There are times I get upset over it and it was well over 10 years ago. Therapy really helped and I'm thankful to both of my therapists. I wish the samething.

You're welcome and I'm glad you found some help for it. I can definitely see how it can still make you upset, sometimes. Some things we experience in life make such an impression (good or bad) that you just never forget and the emotions that went along with it can still linger.

I was messed up for a long time. I'm not 100% but I'm better than I was. I don't know if I ever will be. But what I do know is I can sympathize and understand and support others. If I can help just one other person, it will be worth it.

And that's good. Being even a little better is better than still being in the same place. I don't think anyone gets one hundred percent better from anything like that and it definitely helps you relate to and help others.

I've never watched Duck Dynasty, but honestly, from what I've seen of the show, the fact that they have views like that doesn't honestly surprise me. As for the firing, A&E had every right to fire him, since he is technically under their jurisdiction as a star of one of their shows, and considering the potential damage it could give to A&E's image I understand why they fired him, but he never actually stated that his views had any relation whatsoever to A&E. They were said as his own personal views and however antiquated those views were, they were still only his own, and not that of A&E.

I actually didn't agree with the Paula Deen firing because those views were also prior to her joining Food Network, and also in some respect, likely a product of where she grew up. Yes, they were outdated, but she also likely grew up in a time when such views were mostly the norm. As a side note, the Duck Dynasty patriarch grew up in the same environment and it's pretty evident in the majority of his comments that he makes that he's still pretty much stuck in some ways to that particular era.

Their opinions are not at all surprising...though I didn't know the guy had actually said these bigoted things. I personally don't care at all for the show, but people around me watch it, and what's annoying though is not only are fans saying that he was "just expressing his opinion" but someone I know said this:

So for a moment, because I don't watch or care, I was slightly under the impression that the guy was fired for talking about the "love of Jesus." Of course this person doesn't mention the homophobia or racist comments. :P

Some Christians, some Christians...just smh.

Sometimes I desperately wish I personally knew more non-religious people -__-

You guys are missing his full statement: “I myself am a product of the 60s; I centered my life around sex, drugs and rock and roll until I hit rock bottom and accepted Jesus as my Savior. 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. We would all be better off if we loved God and loved each other.” Live and let live, guys.

We'll live and let live when bigots don't spread the message that someone is wrong simply because of their sexuality. We'll live and let live when people that are a sexuality other than heterosexual aren't likened to those that participate in bestiality

Annnd here are some other statements:

Homosexuality is not comparable to bestiality, neither is promiscuity...and homosexuality to promiscuity itself...those are ALL completely different things. Also personal sexual preferences (I.E., male anuses to female vaginas) aren't really logical or illogical...they're just bloody preferences.

Annnd another one:

This statement is pretty ridiculous, and I find it baffling that religious people can actually throw such labels together and call them all sin as though homosexuality, drunkenness, and fucking KILLING people were somehow comparable. At all. This IS offensive.

Some Christians will say, "Love the sinner not the sin" so they'll include liars, thieves, murderers, and homosexuals... <- UH, that last one does not deserve to be there next to murderers and thieves, thank you... Do you see my point?

Look, it's one thing to SAY you love someone, but if you think what they're doing is so wrong, let's face it...you're probably lying. The whole "love" message is completely insincere. I see it all the time. People try to look nice by saying what basically everyone wants (peace, love, etc) and then say ridiculously offensive things about other people they claim to "love" and then they try to play the victim because "Oh but no, I said I LOVE THEM" basically meaning, "Therefore I can say whatever the hell I want." Yeah, don't do that, please. it's very, very annoying. :

To you, they're different yes. But to him and many other Christians (not all) that's just part of their belief system. Whether you think he's right or wrong doesn't matter at all - it's his personal opinion, in a magazine interview that asked for his personal opinion, and as old as he is, he's probably not going to change. He didn't mean any of that maliciously, he was stating it as a fact according to his belief system, and then adding that he's going to love everyone how they are anyway. It's NOT actually that big of a deal. People need to stop getting so butt-hurt about harmless opinions from people who aren't even trying force others to conform. Which is what you want to do by making sure people who disagree with you don't get to share what they think.

No actually it does matter because people spouting that stupid crap is what makes society hostile to LGBTQ people. That kind of talk makes it okay for people to bully a gay kid in school, those beliefs are what people cite when they deny lesbian couples the right to marry, those words were used to make homosexuality a crime punishable by death in other parts of the world, they are not just fucking words when coming from a public figure.

If you don't realize the wider impact this kind of mindset has then you must be really naive. His words don't exist in their own bubble, he taught his kids this, he'll teach his grandkids this, that interview is in the public eye and other people will use those words to promote hate.

I felt the need to show you why it was offensive since you posted that whole nice sounding quote...it made me go under the impression that you didn't get it -- and that's still my impression of you now. It may be his mere opinion but those opinions are bigoted, and it's highly understandable that A&E would not want him around anymore.

If you were incorrectly associated with promiscuity, bestiality, terrorism, and told that you were illogical simply for loving and/or being attracted to someone, hey, you'd probably offended (or in your words, "butthurt") too. Those opinions are atrociously stupid. He may have the freedom to say those things, but as others have said, that does mean he can say it without consequence...which is especially true in the television world, where image is very important. Would I have fired him? I don't know, I'm for freedom of speech, but if he made my network look bad...well, then yes, I would have. That's the main thing here -- A&E doesn't want to look like bigots, and with that, they have every right to fire him.

How about YOU stop being "butthurt" over a guy being fired for basically being incredibly stupid?

[edit] Also, just as he has the right to express what he thinks is wrong, so do we. We are allowed to express our frustration with people like him. We're allowed to point out the flaws in his comments and criticise him for it. His opinions are not reasonable nor are they "loving" -- that's just our opinion.

While he, himself, may not think his beliefs are malicious, those outside of himself and his family know different. Just because you (general you) think that your statements are not offensive, may not cause harm, does not mean they aren't and won't. His "freedom of speech," like others have said, will only keep him out of jail, but A&E saw that his statements are inflammatory and slanderous.

One person's statement can cause a tidal wave of hatred. History has proven this time and time again.

While we are certainly more progressive at this point to where any close-minded Christian cannot stone a homosexual to death in Time's Square, words can still hurt. Especially if you are young, impressionable, and think you may be more interested in the same sex instead of the opposite sex, but you hear your parents or an idol (Hell, gay people and people of other races MAY have looked up to Phil before this!) to tell you that you are nothing better than a terrorist or that your hurt is unwarranted because hey, he never heard anyone complain... Still. Hurts.

It is not "butthurt" to feel offended. It is taking a stand against hatred that the viewers of this show have heard.

And when hatred stops, we'll shut up.

First off, are people really this surprised that he would have these views? They live in the fucking Bible Belt. The family has had their views set in stone for generations, and isn't likely to change even when everything else does.

Anyways, I find it hilarious how bipolar our nation currently is over the debate of homosexuality. Damned if you do support homosexuality, damned if you don't.

No one wins. Ah, humans are absolutely ridiculous.

I support the LGBT community, but I also like to believe that Phil does have a right to say what he wants. It was harsh, but it's not like he was saying, "Holocaust all gays!" or "take'em to the woods and leave no trail behind so the cops don't figure it was you who killed the queer."

Phil pretty much admits, "Let God decide, cause it ain't mine!"

I'd bet $20 GQ's interviewer took everything out of context, in an attempt to get the magazine more publicity, thus more readers/subscribers. Gotta sink someone to get the upper-hand.

Of course I see why it offended people. What I'm saying is, he said it in a forum outside of his TV show, he was not speaking on behalf of anyone but himself. He obviously had an unsavory way of saying so, but he was really just saying this is what he believes, he personally thinks it's wrong, but he's not going to judge or persecute anyone who feels or behaves differently because that's not his place. He was asked his opinion for an interview, and he gave it. And again, why is everyone so surprised he doesn't support gay marriage? They quite openly present themselves as Christians and they obviously live in the South. Not all Christians are anti-gay (I'm not), but for those who are, if they aren't actively trying to hurt people or punish them, then there's really no need to be so nasty toward that particular individual.