Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Phil Robertson homophobic rant filmed: Duck Dynasty personality attacks 'homosexual behaviour' in church sermon

The Duck Dynasty star unleashes another tirade on the gay community

Ella Alexander
Friday 23 May 2014 07:15 EDT
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Phil Robertson has reaffirmed his view that ‘homosexual behaviour’ is sinful in a recent sermon to his Louisiana church congregation.

Scroll down to watch the video

His speech – which was filmed – reportedly took place on Easter Sunday. The Duck Dynasty personality addressed the backlash that he received for his homophobic comments published in the January issue of GQ magazine – for which he was briefly suspended from the reality series.

“They were mad at me… Because instead of acknowledging their sin, like you had better do, they rail against me for giving 'em their truth about their sin,” he said.

“Don't deceive yourselves. You want the verse? The news media didn't even know it was a verse. They thought I was just mouthing off.”

He went onto repeat the contentious religious verse, with increasing enthusiasm.

“Is homosexual behaviour a sin? Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Don't be deceived,” he said.

“Neither the sexually immoral, neither the idolaters, nor adulterers, nor male prostitutes, nor homosexual offenders, nor thieves, nor greedy, nor drunkards, not slanderers, not swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.”

GLAAD, the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, described Robertson’s GQ comments as “one of the vilest and most extreme statements uttered against LGBT people in a mainstream publication”.

“It seems like, to me, a vagina - as a man - would be more desirable than a man's anus,” Robertson said in the magazine.

“That's just me. I'm just thinking: There's more there! She's got more to offer. I mean, come on, dudes! You know what I'm saying? But hey, sin: It's not logical, my man. It's just not logical.”

TV channel A&E, which airs Duck Dynasty, released a statement shortly afterwards, describing how they were “extremely disappointed” with Robertson’s opinion and explained that his “personal views in no way reflect those of A+E Networks, who have always been strong supporters and champions of the LGBT community.”

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in