The A&E Network debuted the new season of Duck Dynasty Wednesday night. The network and its show, which loosely follows the lives of the Louisiana-based Robertson family and their Duck Commander brand, were the focus of much media attention following controversial remarks made by patriarch Phil Robertson to GQ magazine in December of 2013.
Robertson's comments, viewed by many as racist and homophobic, led to the company's decision to indefinitely suspend Robertson, a decision echoed when chain-restaurant Cracker Barrel announced plans to remove all Duck Dynasty merchandise from their stores. Both decisions were met with considerable social media backlash, prompting both Robertson and the merchandise to be restored.
In subsequent interviews, Robertson noted that his remarks stemmed from the poor, rural environment in which he was raised, though he declined opportunities to directly apologize, stating that he would not back down from what he believes to be Christian values.
New viewers tuning in hoping to see anything related to the controversy were surely disappointed with Wednesday's episode, which focused on the introduction of Duck Commander CEO Willie Robertson's adopted daughter, Rebecca.
Rebecca, 24, first entered the Robertson's lives as a foreign exchange student over a decade ago, before being officially adopted at a later date. Along with other fringe Robertsons, Rebecca has been absent for the first several seasons of the show. As explained by Willie during the first five minutes of the premiere, Rebecca has been living and working as an intern in the fashion industry in Los Angeles.
Rebecca isn't the first Robertson to make headlines through her absence. The eldest of the Robertson sons, Al, didn't appear until the 2013 fall premiere. The show's breakout star, Si Robertson, shocked many of the show's fans before the 2013 premiere by announcing that he had been happily married for nearly 50 years, though his wife and children have not yet been seen on the program.
New episodes of Duck Dynasty will continue to air at 10 p.m. on the A&E network throughout the spring season. It is not yet known if Phil's remarks will be a factor in the season's plot.
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