Despite the controversy stirred up Wednesday afternoon by critical remarks of "homosexual behavior" by Duck Dynasty patriarch Phil Robertson in a GQ interview, Simon & Schuster has no plans to pull Phil Robertson's bestselling book, Happy, Happy, Happy. The title has sold nearly 600,000 printed copies in outlets that report to Nielsen BookScan. Books-A-Million also said it will continue to sell the book; representatives from B&N did not get back to PW this morning about whether they will continue to sell Happy.
Late Wednesday the A&E Network announced Robertson is on indefinite suspension from filming the hit reality show after giving homophobic remarks during a GQ magazine interview. In the interview, Robertson condemned gays and likened their sins to that of adulterers and swindlers. Among his thoughts on sin, "Start with homosexual behavior and just morph out from there. Bestiality, sleeping around with this woman and that woman and that woman and these men."
Robertson’s publisher Jonathan Merkh, of S&S's Howard Books imprint, said of the controversy, "While Phil Robertson has always been known for his opinions, we do not condone his recent remarks, nor do they reflect the views of Howard Books or Simon & Schuster. In our experience publishing the Duck Commander books he has always treated one and all with the utmost respect regardless of political leaning, sexual orientation or religious views, and we believe that the Phil Robertson we know is more properly represented by this statement from his GQ interview: “I would never treat anyone with disrespect just because they are different from me. We are all created by the Almighty and like Him, I love all of humanity. We would all be better off if we loved God and loved each other."
