|
 The speech posted on video-sharing website YouTube in
February 2010 shows Robertson addressing a supper at Berean
Bible Church in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, and condemning
homosexuals in the 45-minute talk that touched on the U.S.
Constitution and secularization of American society.
"They (homosexuals) committed indecent acts with one another,"
said Robertson, clad in his usual camouflage, in the video
posted on the church's YouTube page, which has drawn fresh
attention in the wake of Robertson's suspension from one of the
most-watched shows on cable television.
"And they received in themselves the due penalty for their
perversion," he added. "They're full of murder, envy, strife,
hatred. They are insolent, arrogant God haters. They are
heartless. They are faithless. They are senseless. They are
ruthless. They invent ways of doing evil."
Robertson, the patriarch of the Louisiana clan on the reality
show about hunting, fishing and domestic squabbles, was put on
indefinite "hiatus" by A&E on Wednesday for his remarks to GQ
magazine characterizing homosexuality as sinful behavior.
A spokeswoman for A&E, a joint cable network venture of Walt
Disney Co and privately held Hearst Corp, did not immediately
return a message seeking comment about whether A&E knew about
Robertson's earlier comments on homosexuality.
The network has previously said it was disappointed after
reading Robertson's remarks, which it added were his personal
views and did not reflect those of the network.
Civil rights groups GLAAD criticized the comments, but the
67-year-old Robertson also found supporters among Republican
politicians and figures, such as former vice presidential
candidate Sarah Palin, Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal and Texas
Senator Ted Cruz, who all advocated Robertson's right to free
speech.
[to top of second column] |
 The future of the popular series, which is scheduled
to begin its previously taped fifth season on January 15, is up in
the air following Robertson's indefinite suspension and his family
hinted that they would not participate without him.
"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," the family said in a statement on Thursday.
The standoff between the Robertson family and A&E has put big money
in the balance as the impasse also threatens a vast array of "Duck
Dynasty" licensed merchandise that has brought in some $400 million,
according to Forbes magazine.
"Duck Dynasty" brand apparel and products, including camouflage bed
sheets and reclining furniture, are sold at retailers such as Target
and Walmart.
The show's fourth season debuted in August to 11.8 million viewers,
a record for a cable nonfiction series, A&E said.
It averages about 8 million viewers per episode and its Christmas
special was most-watched non-sports cable program on U.S. television
last week.
(Editing by Mary Milliken and Lisa
Shumaker)
[© 2013 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.] Copyright 2013 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
 |
