Phil Robertson controversy: Duck Dynasty stars break their silence

Duck Dynasty stars have issued a statement regarding the indefinite suspension of family patriarch Phil Robertson, who was pulled from the A&E reality show on Wednesday after making anti-gay comments in a GQ magazine interview.

In the statement, posted on the Duck Commander website, the Robertson family says that it “cannot imagine” going forward with the show if Phil isn’t aboard, and that it’s “in discussions” with A&E Networks to determine what his suspension means for the future of the show.

The family asserted that Phil Robertson “would never incite or encourage hate” and that they were “disappointed” in the suspension.

They also said that Duck Commander’s expression of his faith is his “constitutionally protected right.”

The statement read: “We want to thank all of you for your prayers and support. The family has spent much time in prayer since learning of A&E’s decision. We want you to know that first and foremost we are a family rooted in our faith in God and our belief that the Bible is His word. While some of Phil’s unfiltered comments to the reporter were coarse, his beliefs are grounded in the teachings of the Bible. Phil is a Godly man who follows what the Bible says are the greatest commandments: <<Love the Lord your God with all your heart>> and <<Love your neighbor as yourself>>. Phil would never incite or encourage hate. We are disappointed that Phil has been placed on hiatus for expressing his faith, which is his constitutionally protected right. We have had a successful working relationship with A&E but, as a family, we cannot imagine the show going forward without our patriarch at the helm. We are in discussions with A&E to see what that means for the future of <<Duck Dynasty>>. Again, thank you for your continued support of our family.”