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He is a public representative of A&E, he said insanely offensive things that tarnished their reputation.... I think they're entitled to fire him. Just like an employee can be fired for insulting their boss on Facebook.

And it has nothing to do with free speech. He was not imprisoned or prosecuted for his words, so no one is infringing on his freedom of speech.

I think he has the right to believe these things if he wants, but he should have kept his mouth shut for his own sake.

"I am most shocked by, and amazed that it has been talked about as much, is his comments about African Americans."

Exactly! I'm AA and have had others post and Im like, dude, did you READ the article? Anything to take down the "PC police" is fine by them.

I saw it as, you don't say certain things in fear of losing your job, same thing here.

Also, funniest comment on this I saw? "How did this wizard looking dude end up in GQ?" LOL!

@loveisstrange: this, exactly.

I've never watched the show. I don't agree with anything he said. But I guarantee you he signed an employee code of conduct, a signed contractual agreement you willingly abide by if you'd like to stay employeed, that states you'll agree to act in a way to represent the company, it's mission and standards.

They were absolutely within their right to fire him or suspend him for breech of contract.

Neither gq or a&e is denying his right to free speech. If they were, he'd be in jail.

@Shutterbug: damn! Thx for correcting me

i'm not sure what his contract says, but i doubt that A&E is obligated to continue to pay him to do the show when he does something the execs find jeopardizes the show, the network's image, etc. A&E is a private entity not subject to the free speech clause in the bill of rights, it doesn't have to fund his lifestyle or anyone else's, regardless of their views.

@loveisstrange: YES. It's driving me crazy to see how many people (including the freaking governor of Louisiana) are calling this a first amendment issue. He has every right to say whatever he likes, which he obviously did. He does not have the right to say whatever he likes without consequences. Some people need to review what "freedom of speech" really means.

This really has nothing to do with free speech and it's annoying that people keep bringing it up. Yes, he's entitled to his beliefs and opinions. But, if you take it upon yourself to express such sentiments within or representing your workplace, your job could very reasonably be in jeopardy. His comments were ignorant at best, and bigoted/racist, at worst.

@MrsSCB: This drives me insane. The First Amendment protects government infringement on speech. A&E is not the government--they are a private company and can do whatever the eff they want (and I agree with their decision!). Love the meme

(Not to begrudge any HBers who agree with what he said.. to each their own.. but I share this more because it addresses the whole first amendment business!)

Honestly, I'm kind of shocked that so many people are shocked re: his statements on his views of homosexuality. The Robertson family (and A&E, for that matter) have blatantly put themselves out there as a staunchly conservative Christian family living in the South. While I certainly understand that many disagree with his view, I'm just shocked that people are shocked by it. It's not a new concept that many conservative Christians believe similarly to Mr. Robertson; look at every political debate regarding the right to marriage being one man one woman v. the right to marry whomever you choose. A & E has to choose whether that's a view they want one of their stars proclaiming, but I don't really get them acting shocked by his view.

Totally agree on the free speech bit. Government action, people, that's what you need to look for!

ETA: I'm surprised there isn't more uproar about his other statements, like the statement about everyone seeming happy, etc. pre-civil rights era. Those statements were more shocking to me than any of this statements about his views on homosexuality.

@Mrs. Blue: I agree re: his other statements. My theory is that people who agree with him on the anti-gay statements are just choosing to ignore that part so they can get all up in arms about him being fired according to some gay agenda in the media or some nonsense. Because I'd like to think his words about pre-civil rights America would be viewed as wrong by pretty much everyone. Although I wish A&E would have focused more on that in their statement about firing him. I think it would have been harder for people to argue with it.

@Mrs. Blue: Agree! His other statements were wayyyyy more shocking to me (I think my jaw actually dropped at one point).

@scg00387:

Another round of applause for Rage Against the Minivan's post on it. I was so glad to read her post, she nailed it.

What irritates me most is when ppl start screaming FIRST AMENDMENT and it's a private party involved. NOOOO people, it's only implicated when the govt is the one involved!!

I don't know anything about this show but he's free to represent his views and a&e is free to get rid of him.

I don't agree with what he said, but I don't understand why people are so surprised? A&E had no problem making money off their Christian image before this. I don't think he really hid the fact that he held these views before he came right out and said them.

@pinkcupcake: Your comment reminded me a few verses from the Trace Adkins song, "Fightin Words" lol.

"Excuse me, First amendment? Son, the first amendment protects you from the government not from me. You can say whatever you want to out there but you come within reach of me and I'll exercise my right to give you a good ol' country a$$ whoopin"

@Beyond2: @blackbird: @Mrs. Blue: I don't think anyone is surprised that a redneck hillbilly has those views, I think they're just surprised that he put them out there publicly like that. At least, that's my take.

It hasn't been up in my fb feed too much today, except for my Hubs's cousin who wrote "So...freedom of speech, unless it's pro-Jesus?" But that's not pro-Jesus to me. That's anti-gay, bigoted, racist bull. I'd be fired for saying shit like that. He should be, too. The first amendment protects you from being prosecuted, not from being fired.

If anyone is looking for something to do tonight you should go read all the comments on A&E's Facebook page...very entertaining!