A&E’s show Duck Dynasty will resume filming in spring with the whole family.
Phil Robertson
Phil Robertson will return to Duck Dinasty in spring 2014. A&E announced on Friday that it will resume production on its hit show with Robertson and his family. This happens two weeks after the patriarch was put on an “indefinite hiatus” by the company due to the controversial comments about homosexuals and African Americans he made in an interview to GQ.
“While Phil’s comments made in the interview reflect his personal views based on his own beliefs, and his own personal journey, he and his family have publicly stated they regret the ‘coarse language’ he used and the mis-interpretation of his core beliefs based only on the article. He also made it clear he would ‘never incite or encourage hate,'” A&E said in a statement.
The network also added that “Duck Dynasty is not a show about one man’s views. It resonates with a large audience because it is a show about family… a family that America has come to love. As you might have seen in many episodes, they come together to reflect and pray for unity, tolerance and forgiveness. These are three values that we at A&E Networks also feel strongly about.”
Duck Dynasty is in the middle of its fourth season and averages 14.6 million viewers, which include DVR playback. New episodes of the series that were previously shot and feature the patriarch were set to begin airing Jan. 15.