“Duck Dynasty” star Phil Robertson said this week he “can’t support canceling Whoopi Goldberg,” the embattled co-host of “The View,” amid controversy over her recent Holocaust comments.
Robertson, who infamously faced his own bout with cancel culture in 2013, when A&E suspended him over comments he made during a magazine interview, said in a new Facebook post he believes in redemption, Jesus, and the Gospel as alternatives to canceling people into oblivion.
“I can’t support canceling Whoopi Goldberg, and I don’t support canceling anyone else — not even when what they have to say is ignorant, hostile, or just plain dumb,” Robertson wrote. “I believe in Jesus, I believe in redemption, and I believe we live in a nation that needs to hear a whole lot more about the one who gave himself to redeem us.”
Robertson, who has a new book out on this very topic, titled “Uncanceled,” expanded upon his beliefs in a Substack article in which he called Goldberg’s claim on “The View” last month that the Holocaust wasn’t about race “wrong.”
Watch Robertson appear on CBN’s “Faith vs. Culture,” where he discussed his own cancel culture chaos, his new book, and why he believes cancellation is terrible for the nation:
Robertson said he understands frustrations over claims Goldberg has received fairer treatment than conservatives who have said “things that are a lot less inflammatory.”
But he also offered some cautionary messages, particularly for those elated over her punishment.
“Despite our differences, I’m going out on a limb to say that canceling her for making a stupid comment is the last thing we should be calling for,” Robertson said. “For one thing, those who live by the sword, die by the sword. If a professional liberal like her can be canceled, what do you think will happen to you? We can’t just go around canceling people who say something with which we disagree.”
Beyond that, Robertson said he doesn’t fear or get worked up over others’ speech — even harsh critiques of his Christian ideals — because he knows there are no statements that could ever counter the truth of Scripture.
“If Christ was indeed dead but is now alive, do you think I’m going to wring my hands and whimper every time someone says something that attacks my core beliefs? It’s not even about me, for crying out loud,” Robertson said. “The power is in the one who was raised. I just work for Him.”
Rather than cancel others, he called on people to allow free speech and merely respond. Read Robertson’s full explainer here.
As Faithwire previously reported, Goldberg was suspended after saying on the air last month the Holocaust was “not about race.”
“It’s about man’s inhumanity to man — that’s what it’s about,” Goldberg said, adding that it involved “two white groups of people.” The reaction was swift, and the network subsequently punished Goldberg, who apologized. A renewed debate about cancel culture has since ensued.
Goldberg is expected to return to “The View” next week.
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