The fallout from Duck Dynasty star Phil Robertson’s controversial GQ interview continues as fans, the media, and businesses tied to the Duck Dynasty empire wrestle with how to react. Fans and supporters of Phil argue that his comments were based on the Bible and his religious beliefs and that A&E booting him from the show was violating his freedom of speech, while those that disagree with Phil’s comments on homosexuality and the Civil Rights Movement (including A&E) believe it was well within the network’s right to place him on an indefinite hiatus because they own the television show and can do what they want editorially.
Caught in the middle of the debate are businesses selling Duck Dynasty merchandise, one of the most popular brands in America right now. Southern-themed restaurant chain Cracker Barrel announced last week that they would be removing “selected products” associated with the Duck Dynasty brand from their famous “country stores” attached to their dining rooms. Here is the full statement issued by Cracker Barrel on their Facebook page:
Cracker Barrel’s mission is Pleasing People. We operate within the ideals of fairness, mutual respect and equal treatment of all people. These ideals are the core of our corporate culture. We continue to offer Duck Commander products in our stores. We removed selected products which we were concerned might offend some of our guests while we evaluate the situation. We continually evaluate the products we offer and will continue to do so.
In addition to removing selected items, numerous reports (as well as the photo below) indicate other Duck Dynasty merchandise was marked down, including Phil Robertson’s book Happy, Happy, Happy.
Needless to say, Cracker Barrel’s action angered some fans, and apparently the backlash was so great the chain did a complete turnaround! They posted this statement on their website this weekend:
December 22, 2013
Letter to Cracker Barrel Customers December 22, 2013
LEBANON, Tenn – Today, Cracker Barrel sent the following letter to customers.
Dear Cracker Barrel Customer:
When we made the decision to remove and evaluate certain Duck Dynasty items, we offended many of our loyal customers. Our intent was to avoid offending, but that’s just what we’ve done.
You told us we made a mistake. And, you weren’t shy about it. You wrote, you called and you took to social media to express your thoughts and feelings. You flat out told us we were wrong.
We listened.
Today, we are putting all our Duck Dynasty products back in our stores.
And, we apologize for offending you.
We respect all individuals right to express their beliefs. We certainly did not mean to have anyone think different.
We sincerely hope you will continue to be part of our Cracker Barrel family.
In case you missed it, back in 2004 the “U.S. Department of Justice found evidence that Cracker Barrel had been segregating customer seating by race; seating or serving white customers before seating or serving black customers; providing inferior service to black customers, and allowing white servers to refuse to wait on black customers.” As a result, “The Justice Department determined that the firm had violated Title II of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The company was required to sign a five-year agreement to introduce ‘effective nondiscrimination policies and procedures.’ The terms included new equal opportunity training; the creation of a new system to log, investigate and resolve complaints of discrimination; and the publicizing of its non-discrimination policies. They were required to hire an outside auditor to ensure compliance with the terms of the settlement.” (source: Wikipedia)
Since that investigation and after having to shell out a $2 million settlement to end a suit alleging race and sexual harassment at three Illinois restaurants in 2006, Cracker Barrel has been diligently trying to overhaul its image, including hiring more minorities, becoming a corporate sponsor of the NAACP Leadership 500 Summit, and posting a sign in the front foyer explaining the company’s non-discrimination policy as well as adding the policy to its menu with information on how to file a complaint.
Clearly, Cracker Barrel was trying to continue its pro-diversity stance by acting quickly on the Phil Robertson issue, but now it has painted itself in a corner and seemingly only made things worse by flip-flopping and angering both sides.
Meanwhile, with the future of Duck Dynasty in question after the Robertson family issued a statement saying “we cannot imagine the show going forward without our patriarch at the helm,” other networks are offering the hugely popular show a new home if A&E doesn’t want to continue airing it.
According to TMZ, the Christian-affiliated Hunt Channel as well as Pursuit Channel would both be willing to air new episodes of Duck Dynasty. “We believe in the 2nd amendment and freedom of speech,” Hunt Channel owner Merrill Sport tells the site. “A&E needs to put on their big boy pants, and if they don’t like the programming, they need to either let [Duck Dynasty] go or shut up and pay them.”
Rusty Faulk, CEO of Pursuit Channel, concurs, saying his network would also be willing to take on the now-controversial show. “We don’t censor our personalities,” Faulk says.
And in other Phil Robertson fallout news, fellow controversial celebrity Charlie Sheen offered up this collection of words in response to Phil’s comments:
hey Mallard brained
Phil Robertso!
you have offended and hurt so many dear friends of mine,
who DO NOT have the voice or the outreach that I do.
well news flash
shower-dodger,
I will speak loudly and clearly for ALL of them.
so,
just when your desperately sub evolved ass thought the pressure was off,
you are now in the crosshairs of a MaSheen style media
beat down.
(I’ll try to keep the big words to a minimum as not to confuse you)
your statements were and are
abhorrently and
mendaciously unforgivable.
the idea that you have a job
outside of dirt-clod stacking
is a miracle.
the only ‘Dynasty’ you are attached to might be the
re-runs of that dated show.
the only thing you should ever be in charge of building is a hole in the ground the exact size of your head.
perhaps your beard would fit as well if you plucked out the
army of scabies and
bull weevils sequestered deep in it’s sarcophagus of dander and weasel pelts.
shame on you.
you’re the only surviving
brain donor I’ve ever known.
when the gators and Egrets
kick you out of their
hovel,
you need to make serious amends to those you have
radically offended.
on the eight day
when I was whittling my cosmic banjo,
I’m pretty sure YOU were the scattered dross I then used to light a fire and
locate the nearest
Andy Gump.
repulsed by you;
c sheen
hash tag;
Duck; that was me.
I’m sure Phil will be heartbroken that he has not garnered Charlie Sheen’s admiration.
UPDATE – Charlie just added:
Pee Robert-skumm,
not done w/u
Matthew 7:1-5
“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged.
c
