Given the ideological propensity behind the A&E executives this explanation from inside the Robertson family makes a lot of sense of what took place. 
(Daily Mail )  Duck Dynasty star Phil Robertson and his  family believe they have been ‘hung out to dry’ by TV network A&E after he  was suspended for homophobic comments made in a magazine interview, MailOnline  can reveal.

Sources within the close-knit Louisiana clan  say they are convinced A&E are manipulating the controversial situation to  bring them – and particularly Robertson – back into line after Television  executives grew tired of the family pushing their deeply-held, Christian  beliefs.
They also think the network could have done  something to stop the controversial GQ article being made public, because an  A&E representative was present during the interview with patriarch,  Roberston, 67.
A source close to the family, who asked not  to be named, told MailOnline: ‘You have to ask yourself, why this interview  happened and why it ever became public. Someone from A&E was there and was  aware of the kind of answers Phil was giving.
‘But despite that, they didn’t ever try to  stop it or control it. Instead, they let it hit the headlines and then released  a statement condemning it.
‘It is our belief that they knew what was  going to happen and then used the situation to exercise control over  Phil.
‘It is our understanding that when the TV  executives came up with the concept for the show they wanted it to be a case of  people laughing at a bunch of backward rednecks.
‘But when it didn’t turn out like that and  people actually started identifying with the way the family behaved and were  laughing with them, not at them, they became uncomfortable. It did not sit will  with the New York TV types.
‘We believe they were also  uncomfortable with the family’s insistence that there would be a strong  religious presence in the show. They knew Phil was the driving force behind this  and we think they have used this situation to bring him in line so they could  steer the show back down the path they originally intended for  it.
‘But they may have underestimated how united  the family are and how committed they are to their beliefs. They also didn’t  realize how much support Phil would get from the public, so things have  backfired on them.’   (read more)

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