Duck Dynasty Items Back on Cracker Barrel's Shelves

Petitions demand reinstatement of Phil Robertson
By Matt Cantor,  Newser Staff
Posted Dec 21, 2013 3:30 PM CST
Updated Dec 22, 2013 10:00 PM CST
Duck Dynasty Items Off Shelves at Cracker Barrel
In this May 9, 2012 photo, Willie Robertson, left, Phil Robertson, center, and Si Robertson pose at the A&E Networks 2012 Upfront at Lincoln Center in New York.   (AP Photo/Starpix, Kristina Bumphrey)

Cracker Barrel on Friday distanced itself from Duck Dynasty as controversy swirled over Phil Robertson's anti-gay remarks in GQ. The move didn't last long. After announcing that it was taking some Duck Dynasty gear off its shelves ("We removed selected products which we were concerned might offend some of our guests while we evaluate the situation," Cracker Barrel said in a statement), it did an about-face on Sunday, ABC News reports. Per its latest statement: "When we made the decision to remove and evaluate certain Duck Dynasty items, we offended many of our loyal customers. Our intent was to avoid offending, but that's just what we've done. You flat out told us we were wrong. We listened."

Meanwhile, petitions against A&E's suspension of Robertson are gaining support. One at Change.org has nearly 115,000 signers, while the website IStandWithPhil.com has more than 190,000. The site urges the "network to immediately reinstate Mr. Robertson to Duck Dynasty, and to formally apologize to him, his family, and the millions of viewers who tune in every week," CNN reports. A&E itself, however, isn't saying much, CNN notes: Details of Robertson's future with the show—and the show itself—remain uncertain. Nor is the rest of the Robertson family sure it wants to continue working with the network. (More Cracker Barrel stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X