A&E Lifts Robertson's 'Duck Dynasty' Suspension

After a little more than two weeks, Phil Robertson's exile from "Duck Dynasty" is over. The A&E network's suspension of Robertson following his controversial interview with GQ magazine ended after fans of the show protested and signed petitions, and in the end, the suspension will have no effect on the series.

The uproar began with the publication of the interview, in which Robertson equated homosexuality with bestiality and terrorism and insisted that he never witnessed any racism when he was growing up Civil-Rights-era Louisiana. A&E suspended Robertson from the show, but production is currently on hold during duck hunting season, so Robertson didn't miss any filming.

The situation put A&E in a difficult position. Disciplining Robertson would certainly anger the show's conservative audience, the vast majority of whom had no problem with Robertson's comments, while ignoring his comments would risk alienating the network's broader audience and advertisers. The suspension did, indeed, anger the show's fans, and various web sites and Facebook groups gathered hundreds of thousands of signatures on petitions demanding Robertson's reinstatement.

In the end, A&E emerges from the controversy relatively unscathed. Robertson missed no production time, so he was, in effect, never really suspended, and the upcoming season of "Duck Dynasty" will be unaffected. The show's supporters are able to declare victory, and Robertson's critics are largely satisfied with the network's handling of the situation.

"Duck Dynasty" is the highest-rated reality show on TV and the second-highest-rated program on cable after "The Walking Dead." It is also a merchandising powerhouse, with "Duck Dynasty"-branded products widely available in retail outlets such as Walmart and Cracker Barrel.