Fox News host Geraldo Rivera blasted A&E’s decision to suspend “Duck Dynasty” reality star Phil Robertson, calling the network’s political correctness “preposterous.”
Mr. Robertson was suspended from the popular family show after he made several comments against homosexuality in a GQ interview.
“Start with homosexual behavior and just morph out from there. Bestiality, sleeping around with this woman and that woman and that woman and those men,” he told GQ. “Don’t be deceived. 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. Don’t deceive yourself. It’s not right.”
Shortly after the interview made headlines, A&E announced it was suspending the patriarch indefinitely.
“I want to say it’s ridiculous to suspend him over his remarks … This is the ’Duck Dynasty’ guy, he’s not teaching public school in New York,” Mr. Rivera said on “Fox & Friends.” “It’s political correctness that’s gotten malignant. It’s preposterous.”
“If I were the president of A&E … I would have said something on the order of, ’His views are vile, according to many people. We don’t agree. We don’t endorse his views, but he has the right to have his point of view,” he continued.
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“This is who the man is. He is deeply spiritual in a sense that was traditional until relatively recently … My fear is, by victimizing or targeting people like Robertson, what you do is you dilute the main message: the message of tolerance,” Mr. Rivera concluded.
You can view a video of the exchange at Mediaite.com.
Earlier, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal and former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin rushed to Robertson’s defense.
• Jessica Chasmar can be reached at jchasmar@washingtontimes.com.
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