bizpacreview.com
December 22, 2013
The pressure is mounting on Walmart to comment on the “Duck Dynasty” controversy that has sparked national outrage.
But the retail giant is staying silent while it banks millions in sales from the TV clan’s merchandise.
Heated debates on everything from free speech rights to the Christian cleansing in America have dominated the news for days after the show’s patriarch, Phil Robertson, revealed his personal views of homosexuality in a recent interview with GQ magazine. The popular cast member was suspended from the show by host network A&E for offending the gay and lesbian community.
On Wednesday, Forbes asked, Is Walmart and A&E’s $400 million dollar empire at stake?
The answer may be a resounding ‘no,’ based on screenshots theDaily Mail grabbed of Walmart’s online shopping page as seen below:
Mail Online reported:
Walmarts sells a huge array of Duck Dynasty merchandise- from T-shirts to camo bedding, posters, watches, toy trucks, camo chairs, clothing, jewellery and even bottle openers.
Today, as Phil Robertson’s close-knit family insisted they would not film the hit A&E show without him following his suspension by the network, fans tweeted they were rushing to Walmart.
However, others pointed out that this support merely puts more money into A&E’s pockets as well, with one tweeting: ‘Loving that Tea People are rushing to Walmart to Duck Dynasty swag in protest of A& who OWNS the merchandising.’
Another added: ‘I better rush off to Walmart and buy up all the Phil Robertson merchandise ‘cuz it’s gonna be a collectors item one day.’
Another tweet read: ‘Your stores may look quite vacant when you pull down the Duck Dynasty merch. May want to double down on the Honey Boo Boo.’
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