Business & Tech
'Duck Dynasty' Debate Takes Over Under Armour's Facebook Page
The Baltimore-based activewear company is earning praise and criticism for continuing its business ties with the Robertson family.
As the social media storm over free speech and the "Duck Dynasty" franchise continued through the weekend, sponsor Under Armour’s Facebook page became a venue in the online shouting match.
Baltimore-based sports apparel maker Under Armour said last week that it is keeping its business ties to the "Duck Dynasty" franchise amid a media brouhaha over comments made by star Phil Robertson about gays and African-Americans in a magazine interview.
Under Armour provides much of the camouflage clothing worn by the stars of the reality TV show and is the title sponsor of a “Duck Dynasty” spinoff show, “Buck Commander,” the Baltimore Business Journal says.
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The Huffington post reports that on Jan. 15, A&E will begin airing new episodes of the show that include scenes featuring the "Dynasty" patriarch. They were filmed earlier this year before the controversial interview prompted the network to dismiss Robertson.
The Baltimore Business Journal says the vast majority of the messages on Under Armour’s Facebook page thanked the company for supporting Robertson and free speech, even though Under Armour's statement said Robertson's remarks "are not reflective of Under Armour’s beliefs and do not represent our point of view."
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Here’s a sampling of customers’ posts from Monday morning:
“This is not about free speech,” writes Patty Victoria. This is about money over values and integrity. Your PR statement in support of this guy was pure hypocrisy. If you support him, you support his views. If you drop your sponsorship, you show you don't. … All I can do is vote with my pocketbook. Nike and Columbia Sportswear will be getting a lot of new business from us.”“Thanks (for) standing firm on the sponsorship of Duck Dynasty. I appreciate seeing a large corporation demonstrate common sense and respect for another person's opinion and belief especially when it is an honest, genuine answer to a question,” says Bobbi Jones Skinner.
And, from Dave Coletta: “Well done UA in standing up for Phil. I'll be making a purchase today because of it.”
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