- Saturday, July 19, 2025
Phil Robertson, controversial star of Duck Dynasty, has died at age 79. Known for his outspoken conservative views and anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric, Robertson passed away months after an Alzheimer’s diagnosis.
By: Vibhuti Pathak
Phil Robertson, the outspoken and often controversial patriarch of A&E’s Duck Dynasty, has died at the age of 79, his family announced on Sunday (26). Known as much for his conservative Christian views as for his television fame, Robertson’s passing comes five months after his family disclosed he had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.
In a heartfelt post shared to Instagram, members of the Robertson family expressed gratitude to supporters and praised the late reality TV star’s strong religious convictions. “He lived boldly in his faith and his desire to share the Good News of Jesus with everyone he met,” the post read. However, the exact cause of death was not confirmed.
Robertson rose to fame as the head of the Louisiana-based Robertson family featured on Duck Dynasty, a reality series that ran for 11 seasons from 2012 to 2017. The show focused on the family’s successful duck hunting gear business, Duck Commander, and became a cultural phenomenon, especially among conservative audiences.
But his rising fame was quickly marred by controversy. In 2013, Robertson was suspended by A&E following an interview with GQ magazine in which he made graphic and offensive remarks about homosexuality. In the interview, he questioned why gay men would prefer “a man’s anus” over female anatomy. A&E expressed disappointment at the time, clarifying that Robertson’s comments reflected his personal beliefs and did not represent the network’s values.
Robertson later doubled down on his views, claiming that sexually transmitted infections were God’s punishment for gay people and, during an Easter sermon, warning that the “sexually immoral” would go to hell. He famously declared that his level of homophobia was “only as bad as Jesus’s”—a statement widely criticized by theologians and activists alike. His son, Alan Robertson, controversially called him a “21st-century prophet”, likening him to John the Baptist.
A staunch supporter of Donald Trump, Phil Robertson appeared on stage with the now-president during a 2019 rally. In an earlier interview on Breitbart News Daily, Robertson told host Steve Bannon and Citizens United president David Bossie that he’d consider going into hiding if Trump lost the presidential race.
Following his death, Texas Senator Ted Cruz paid tribute to the conservative icon on X (formerly Twitter), calling him “one-of-a-kind” and “an American original” who “loved God and was fearless in speaking the truth”. Cruz, who has faced criticism for his ongoing efforts to limit transgender rights, praised Robertson’s unwavering beliefs.
Though widely beloved by his fan base, Robertson leaves behind a legacy that’s deeply polarizing. For some, he was a faith-driven, unapologetic voice in modern America; for others, he symbolized the mainstreaming of intolerance under the guise of religious freedom.
Phil Robertson is survived by his wife Kay, their children, grandchildren, and the millions who tuned in to Duck Dynasty.
