GLAAD has finally issued a statement over A&E’s decision to reinstate anti-gay and racist “reality show” patriarch Phil Roberson of Duck Dynasty.
Via press release:
“Phil Robertson should look African American and gay people in the eyes and hear about the hurtful impact of praising Jim Crow laws and comparing gay people to terrorists. If dialogue with Phil is not part of next steps then A+E has chosen profits over African American and gay people – especially its employees and viewers.”
Variety reports though that GLAAD was in talks with A&E, knew about the decision beforehand and had promised the cable giant that their would be no major backlash.
A+E Networks CEO Nancy Dubuc and other top execs had extensive conversations with the Robertson clan about how to move forward with the show after the decision to suspend Phil Robertson sparked a furor about his right to voice his opinions.
The execs also kept in close contact with reps for GLAAD, the NAACP and other orgs in an effort to find a path to allowing the show to continue.
Before A+E announced its reversal on Robertson’s suspension and plans for a PSA campaign aimed at promoting tolerance, GLAAD and NAACP were apprised of the cabler’s decision — ensuring that there would be no immediate backlash from the two prominent advocacy orgs.
Of course GLAAD’s press release above was written a full 12 hours after A&E’s announced their decision to re-instate Robertson and after gauging the reaction of the LGBT community. But don’t be fooled. GLAAD was actively involved with the decision to re-instate Robertson and they knew all about it beforehand. Their latest press release was nothing more than smoke and mirrors in an attempt to save face and I am sure it will be the last one to be released about this whole Duck Dynasty debacle.
This is a bit misleading, Will. Variety did not report that GLAAD or the NAACP promised anything. The “ensuring” remark was written from the perspective of A&E. It does not say either of the two advocacy groups promised anything. I don’t think it’s unfair to ask either org what their convos were like but it is unfair to simply accuse them of doing something without any or very little evidence to support it. Just my two cents.