When Phil Robertson went to his interview with CQ magazine, A&E sent a publicist along. This is common practice. They are there to make sure the interview goes well and to squelch things in case they don’t. The A&E publicist did neither and now the gang believes Phil was set up in order to give A&E total control over the program. A&E has been trying to stop the Robertson’s talk about Jesus and to cut out praying on the show.
According to a source close to the family, the clan is convinced that A&E has been manipulating the entire controversy in order to bring them, and especially Phil into line. Another source that asked not to be names had a few things to add:
‘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.’
Indeed, A&E , seems to have gone all in with a pair of deuces. While Phil and the rest of the Robertsons bask in adulation of fans and neighbors, A&E took a huge hit in their ratings. Just as they underestimated the Robertsons appeal to the common viewer, and expected them to be laughed at like your hillbilly cousins. Instead they are more like your beloved uncles and aunts who visit on holidays. And now they have overestimated the power of the gay lobby. They forgot there are more of us than there are of them.