‘Duck Dynasty’ Star Phil Robertson Makes Controversial Remarks About Homosexuals, African Americans in New Interview

In a new interview, 'Duck Dynasty' star Phil Robertson shares some views about homosexuality and African Americans that are stirring up controversy.

It's no secret that the Robertson family, stars of the A&E runaway hit reality show, are conservative Christians, but the 67-year-old admits in the January issue of GQ that the show edits around some of what he calls their more "controversial" views. But he doesn't hold back in the article, jumping in with both feet when he's asked to define what is "sinful."

“Start with homosexual behavior and just morph out from there,” he replies. “Bestiality, sleeping around with this woman and that woman and that woman and those men.”

Robertson supports his views by using Scripture. “Don’t be deceived,” he adds, quoting Corinthians. “Neither the adulterers, the idolaters, the male prostitutes, the homosexual offenders, the greedy, the drunkards, the slanderers, the swindlers — they won’t inherit the kingdom of God.”

Robertson insists that America as a collective needs a moral wake-up call, adding that the country was founded on Christian values, and that the gradual drift away from those values is responsible for what he says are the ills of modern society. He believes that the platform the show has given his family is just the jumping-off point for their real work -- spreading the gospel.

“We’re Bible-thumpers who just happened to end up on television,” he states.

Elsewhere in the interview, Robertson -- who grew up in Louisiana during the pre-civil rights era -- says he doesn't believe the plight of African Americans during that time has been portrayed accurately.

“I never, with my eyes, saw the mistreatment of any black person. Not once," he states. "Where we lived was all farmers. The blacks worked for the farmers. I hoed cotton with them. I’m with the blacks, because we’re white trash. We’re going across the field.... They’re singing and happy. I never heard one of them, one black person, say, ‘I tell you what: These doggone white people’—not a word!"

He goes on to add, "Pre-entitlement, pre-welfare, you say: Were they happy? They were godly; they were happy; no one was singing the blues.”

In a statement obtained by the Huffington Post, a spokesperson for GLAAD had this to say in response to the controversy:

Phil and his family claim to be Christian, but Phil's lies about an entire community fly in the face of what true Christians believe. He clearly knows nothing about gay people or the majority of Louisianans –- and Americans -- who support legal recognition for loving and committed gay and lesbian couples. Phil's decision to push vile and extreme stereotypes is a stain on A&E and his sponsors who now need to reexamine their ties to someone with such public disdain for LGBT people and families.

Robertson replied with a clarification of his own, which A&E provided to the Huffington Post. It reads as follows:

I myself am a product of the 60s; I centered my life around sex, drugs and rock and roll until I hit rock bottom and accepted Jesus as my Savior. My mission today is to go forth and tell people about why I follow Christ and also what the bible teaches, and part of that teaching is that women and men are meant to be together. However, I would never treat anyone with disrespect just because they are different from me. We are all created by the Almighty and like Him, I love all of humanity. We would all be better off if we loved God and loved each other.

The Robertson family recently released a Christmas album, 'Duck the Halls,' which features appearances by George Strait, Luke Bryan and Alison Krauss.