One Direction Star Tweets Support for 'Duck Dynasty's Willie Robertson, Receives Backlash
One Direction singer Liam Payne is in hot water after sending a supportive tweet to "Duck Dynasty" star Willie Robertson. Fans are upset with Payne, who they claim is showing support to someone who made anti-gay remarks in an interview last month.
"@williebosshog huge love to you/your family huge respect for your business prosperities and the family values you still all behold. Big fan," Payne tweeted.
His words immediately set off a firestorm of responses from fans and those who follow the popular singer. Many were upset that Payne would support Robertson after he made controversial remarks during an interview with "GQ" magazine last month. Robertson was suspended from the popular series but recently reinstated.
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"Wow. Very confused and disappointed by this @Real_Liam_Payne," tweeted Tyler Oakley, a popular YouTube personality with over 1 million followers on Twitter. "This literally changes everything…"
"Being a fan of someones show and the way they still hold a family together doesn't mean I am ok with all they say," Payne later tweeted in response to all of the comments.
Other fans, though, have started a Twitter campaign with the phrase "#LiamWeStandByYou" in order to combat all the negative reactions he's received.
"#liamday I'm so proud of you. You are my hero @Real_Liam_Payne #LiamWeStandByYou," tweeted 23luglio2010.
"We've got your back @Real_Liam_Payne! #1DFamily," added One Direction Germany.
"Fox & Friends" posted a photo of Payne and Robertson expressing themselves with cartoon bubbles, though it's not known whether Robertson actually replied to Payne's comments.
"Thanks bro. Congrats to u boys as well. Y'all keep rockin, we'll keep quackin. Stay strong in this nutty world," Robertson says in the photo.
Payne continued to defend himself against comments from followers and went on a bit of a rant against all the publicity he was receiving because of his comments.
"I can't do anything without being judged u try that and write about it. Sick of all this bull I'll be back again when the freedom of speech law is back and people don't believe to [sic] much into the [expletive] they read," Payne tweeted.
One Direction bandmates have yet to make a statement about the situation.
