Or “A&E Discovers Money is Green”
Via
Twitchy
we hear the good news: A&E has reversed the suspension of Phil Robertson.
More seriously, here is the full
A&E statement:
As a global media
content company, A+E Networks’ core values are centered around creativity,
inclusion and mutual respect. We believe it is a privilege for our brands to be
invited into people’s home and we operate with a strong sense of integrity and
deep commitment to these principals.
That is why we
reacted so quickly and strongly to a recent interview with Phil Robertson.
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.” We at A+E Networks expressed our disappointment
with his statements in the article, and reiterate that they are not views we
hold.
But 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.
So after discussions
with the Robertson family,...
Let me break in, and add “and
after the Robertson family told them that they wouldn’t do the show without
Phil.”*
...as well as
consulting with numerous advocacy groups, A&E has decided to resume filming
Duck Dynasty later this spring with the entire Robertson family.
We will also use
this moment to launch a national public service campaign (PSA) promoting unity,
tolerance and acceptance among all people, a message that supports our core
values as a company, and the values found in Duck Dynasty. These PSAs will air
across our entire portfolio.
So they will band-aid the problem
by having lots of PSAs about tolerating the people that our cash cow calls
sinners. At least they aren’t doing
anything as lame as forcing Phil to go through “sensitivity training.”
Let’s not kid ourselves. This was as pure a business decision as one
can imagine. Maybe,
maybe, the initial decision to suspend was honest. But the ratings that the show enjoyed made it
very difficult to justify killing this golden goose. I mean it was downright hypocritical for
A&E to suspend Phil while running a
Duck
Dynasty marathon. And A&E
probably realized they faced the threat of a wider boycott. So free speech in defense of free speech wins
one.
Not a victory for the First
Amendment, mind you. But free speech is
larger than the First Amendment.
---------------------------------------
* Of course they didn't quite explicitly say that in public, but public statements that they couldn't imagine doing the show without him suggests that this was the ultimatum that they laid down. But it is technically speculation.
A reasonable reader might also wonder if the rest of the Robertson clan was threatening to break their
contract. But they might not have
been. For instance, it was long rumored
that at one point during the run of the show Friends, that the cast went on “strike” seeking higher pay. They didn’t stop filming the show, but they
intentionally did a very bad job of it, the rumor goes, saying each line in a
monotone. That would arguably be a
violation of their contracts, too, but it would be a much more difficult matter
to prove. For the Robertsons it might be
even easier to be monotone without violating their contract, so maybe they were
threatening that, too. But as noted, this is speculation, albeit educated speculation.