Phil "Duck Commander" Robertson's comments to GQ sparked a whole mess of controversy earlier this week, getting responses out of everyone from Sarah Palin to Jon Stewart. The media circus is familiar: Robertson said some ignorant things about homosexuals and African-Americans, GLAAD and the NAACP highlighted that ignorance and then A&E made Robertson take a step back from the spotlight they'd given him. Now, the Duck Robertson Family is back with a statement of their own.

While unclear whether or not the popular reality show would continue without its patriarch front and center in the duck blind he calls a pulpit, his family defended Phil's sermonizing, saying they are "rooted in our faith in God and our belief that the Bible is His word." The statement continues, setting up a standoff over the future of the show:

While some of Phil’s unfiltered comments to the reporter were coarse, his beliefs are grounded in the teachings of the Bible. Phil is a Godly man who follows what the Bible says are the greatest commandments: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart” and “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Phil would never incite or encourage hate. We are disappointed that Phil has been placed on hiatus for expressing his faith, which is his constitutionally protected right. We have had a successful working relationship with A&E but, as a family, we cannot imagine the show going forward without our patriarch at the helm. We are in discussions with A&E to see what that means for the future of Duck Dynasty. Again, thank you for your continued support of our family.

And don't think the DD brouhaha is going away soon. As branding expert David E. Johnson (CEO of Strategic Vision) explained to EW, "Remember when the Tiger Woods story came out and the media got caught up in it during the holiday period when its slow for news? It dominated many news cycles. The same thing will happen with A&E and Duck Dynasty unless they get past this."

Meanwhile, Sarah Palin — one of the Robertsons' devoted fans — chimed in yesterday, telling Fox News that A&E was full of "absolute quacks” (zing!) who “really screwed up on this one.”

On the opposite end of the media spectrum, here's Jon Stewart sussing out the controversy while defending Robertson's "right to say ignorant shit":

Previously: A&E Puts Duck Dynasty Kingpin In Time Out After Homophobic Remarks
Duck Dynasty Kingpin Says Homosexuality Is Like Bestiality
[Politico]
[Variety]