Duck Dynasty Actor Phil Robertson Reinstated

A&E has lifted Phil Robertson’s suspension. The network suspended the Duck Dynasty patriarch after he gave a controversial interview to GQ magazine in which he expressed his beliefs about homosexuality and race relations. After a threatened network boycott from fans, a strong performance for the show’s Christmas marathon, and a surge in sales for the cast’s Christmas album, the network has reconsidered.

Here is a portion of A&E’s official press statement, from Variety:

“After discussions with the Robertson family, as well as consulting with numerous advocacy groups, A&E has decided to resume filming Duck Dynasty later this spring with the entire Robertson family. We at A+E Networks expressed our disappointment with his statements in the article, and reiterate that they are not views we hold. But Duck Dynasty is not a show about one man’s views. It resonates with a large audience because it is a show about family… a family that America has come to love. As you might have seen in many episodes, they come together to reflect and pray for unity, tolerance and forgiveness. These are three values that we at A+E Networks also feel strongly about.”