Duck Dynasty's Phil Robertson: 'I'm as Much of a Homophobe as Jesus Was'
The patriarch of the "Duck Dynasty" clan, Phil Robertson, says he does not hate homosexuals or anyone for that matter, despite his comments regarding homosexuality that got him temporarily suspended from the A&E Network last year.
Robertson recently began promoting his new book, unPHILtered: The Way I See It, in which he addresses the comments made to GQ Magazine regarding the Bible condemning the gay lifestyle as a sin. While speaking about his book, he also noted that his opinion about gay individuals is similar to that of Jesus' view.
"I'm as much of a homophobe as Jesus was," Robertson told ABC News. "The people who are participating in homosexual behavior, they need to know that I love them."
Get Our Latest News for FREE
Additionally, he justified his interview comments by saying, "I could've said pedophilia, rape, homosexual sin, heterosexual sin. To me, I was just letting them know they're all the same. Just sin."
His new book, which also focuses on "what makes Phil Robertson tick," according to Amazon, underlines the controversial topics he has become entangled with aside from homosexuality, including gun control, taxes, prayer in school, and the government.
While he does not pay attention to what "America is saying or not saying about me, true or untrue," Robertson explained that once readers delve into his book, they will understand that his philosophy in life centers on God, family and love, even though he is outspoken.
"People can read it and decide for themselves, but people need to get it in their head, dude, I don't hate anybody," said Robertson.
He also said his book addresses the race-related comments he made during the same GQ Magazine interview where he mentioned that he never saw African Americans mistreated by whites while he was growing up in the South. Robertson noted that he "hoed cotton with them" and never heard any one of them talk negatively about the white farmers they worked for.
While clearing up his comments, Robertson noted that he does not discriminate against anyone, regardless of race.
"There's one race on this planet. It's called the human race," said Robertson. "We're all the same. To me, there is absolutely nothing that has color to do with it."
Robertson also took the opportunity to discuss his life before converting to Christianity at age 28. He said he was known for his struggle with alcohol at one point in his life and noted that he eventually found God and earned a master's degree in education from Louisiana Tech University, where he also played football.
"I'm a highly-educated man, maybe a shocker to some," said Robertson. "I have a master's degree. I'm no dumbo. Actually, I'd rather be considered ignorant but be a lot smarter than they think I am than the other way around."
unPHILtered was released on Sept. 2 and is a follow-up to Robertson's 2013 autobiography Happy, Happy, Happy: My Life and Legacy as the Duck Commander.
