Duck Dynasty

If you asked yourself "Where was the publicist?" when "Duck Dynasty" star Phil Robertson went off on gays during his big interview with GQ magazine ... TMZ now has the answer ... the publicist was not there!

Sources very familiar with the situation tell us ... a publicist did indeed accompany Robertson to the interview -- per A&E's rigid PR policy -- and the interview took place in several locations. When the GQ reporter and Phil hopped on ATVs, the publicist didn't come along for the ride.

We're told it was then the reporter apparently saw an opening and Phil made his incendiary anti-gay comments

It's pretty shocking ... because Phil is widely known as a loose cannon ... so it's a little like playing Russian Roulette to let him gallivant off with a reporter.

A&E will continue to profit off Phil Robertson and his family during Christmas week -- despite the fact that they benched Phil for his recent anti-gay comments -- because the network will be airing SEVERAL huge "Duck Dynasty" marathons.

DD is pretty much taking over A&E's Christmas schedule. The network will air 4 separate rerun marathons of the show in 4 days (December 22-25) totaling 35.5 hours of air time.

December 22 -- 5PM-4AM EST
December 23 -- 7PM-4AM EST
December 24 -- 6PM-9PM EST
December 25 -- 3:30PM-4AM EST

So we gotta ask ...

The Robertson family just drew a line in the sand with A&E -- NO PHIL, NO SHOW ... and says they are already talking to the cable channel about possibly pulling the plug on "Duck Dynasty."

The family issued a statement saying, "As a family, we cannot imagine the show going forward without our patriarch at the helm. We are in discussions with A&E to see what that means for the future of 'Duck Dynasty.'"

They also say they're "disappointed" that Phil Robertson was suspended by A&E just for expressing his religious beliefs ... which, they point out, is his "constitutionally protected right."

Fun fact: "Duck Dynasty" is the highest rated cable reality TV show ever.

Way to go A&E.

A photo allegedly showing "Duck Dynasty" star Korie Robertson duck naked is being shopped around to media outlets ... but TMZ has learned it's a TOTAL FAKE!

The photo on the left (below) shows a woman who looks like Korie standing in front of a hotel room door in her birthday suit -- her hotness is up for debate, but one thing is not open for debate ... the fact that the pic has been Photoshopped.

Here's what we've determined.

-- Korie's face was superimposed on someone else's body.

-- We found the original photo, which depicts another woman who has similar body features but a very different face (for privacy reasons, we've blurred her punim).

-- One interesting thing ... both women have a similar and peculiar V-shaped collarbone.

Bottom line ... it's pretty clear someone's so pissed at Phil over his anti-gay comments ... they want to drag his son's wife through the mud.

Phil Robertson turned to the Lord after getting benched from "Duck Dynasty."

The pastor at White's Ferry Road Church tells TMZ ... while everyone went crazy last night over Phil's suspension, Phil was in the pews with his prayer group, praying for a woman who had been diagnosed with cancer.

Pastor Mike Kellett tells us ... Robertson didn't even MENTION the TV show or the suspension
-- it was all about the sick woman.

Pastor Mike dodged our question -- whether Phil's a homophobe -- saying, "Phil is doing his best to follow God's word. He always treats people with love and respect."

Pastor Mike says the church is solidly behind Robertson: "Television shows come and go. His faith is forever."

The guys from "Duck Dynasty" are NOT in danger of losing their biggest sponsor, Under Armour -- 'cause while the company tells TMZ its not down with Phil Roberston's homophobic comments, its not willing to kill the business relationship ... yet.

UA -- which sponsors the Duck Commander business, founded by Phil -- just issued a statement to TMZ ... saying, "We have no plans to change our current relationship.

The company adds, "We are obviously aware of the situation. And his comments are not indicative of Under Armour's views."

UA insists the company is committed to treating all people equally and with respect ... even if Phil isn't.

If "Duck Dynasty" network A&E feared advertisers would scatter like waterfowl after a shotgun blast because of Phil Robertson's anti-gay comments ... it's not happening.

A company called Skyjacker -- which builds truck suspensions -- tells us it stands solidly behind Phil and the show ... saying it's a matter of God and country -- it's a free country and Phil has a right to his opinions.

Company brass tells us it goes beyond the Constitution ... to the Creator: "We are a Christian- based company and actively share our faith so standing with Phil Robertson is an easy choice for us."

Robertson opened up a can of worms when he said homosexuality and bestiality were the same sin ... his church seems to back Phil up on that.

Officials at White's Ferry Road Church just told us, "We love him and support him."

Thousands of "Duck Dynasty" fans are on a mission to end Phil Robertson's network suspension over his anti-gay comments -- 'cause they say A&E is denying him his human rights.

Over 35 THOUSAND people have signed a petition -- which fired up yesterday on Change.org -- demanding A&E end the suspension.

Even worse for the network ... it's being ROASTED on social media by DD fans -- hundreds of people are accusing A&E of not allowing Phil Robertson his basic right to freedom of speech.

One fan put the network on blast saying, "As a gay male, is what he said wrong and not educated about how gay people really are? Yes it was. Does he have the right to speak on what he thinks YES HE DOES!"

The fan adds, "Was I offended NO I WASN'T he is a smart man and could learn the truth about things he has no idea about. He's old school you can't hate on him for his beliefs DO NOT GET RID OF PHIL ON THIS SHOW! KEEP HIM!! I will no longer watch if he's gone!!!"

"Duck Dynasty" star Phil Robertson has been SUSPENDED INDEFINITELY by A&E after a series of homophobic comments he made in a recent GQ interview.

A rep for A&E released a statement, saying, "We are extremely disappointed to have read Phil Robertson’s comments in GQ, which are based on his own personal beliefs and are not reflected in the series 'Duck Dynasty.'"

The rep added, "His personal views in no way reflect those of A&E Networks, who have always been strong supporters and champions of the LGBT community."

A&E has suspended him indefinitely from the show. The rest of the "Duck Dynasty" family is expected to remain on the show.

As we reported, Phil told GQ about how a vagina is more desirable than a man's anus, and how homosexuality and bestiality are the same sin.

"Duck Dynasty" star Phil Robertson ruffled a lot of feathers by proclaiming men should focus on lady genitals ... and avoid male a-holes.

Female anuses, fear not -- seems ya might still be in play!

4:55 PM PT -- A&E just dropped the hammer on Phil ... putting him on indefinite hiatus. The network says its disappointed by his anti-gay comments -- which are his own personal beliefs and not reflective of "Duck Dynasty" or the network. A&E says it supports the LGBT community.

8:15 AM PT -- Phil's trying to backpedal by releasing a statement through A&E in which he says, "I would never treat anyone with disrespect just because they are different from me."

But he's still doing some thumping ... adding that the Bible teaches "women and men are meant to be together."

"Duck Dynasty" patriarch Phil Robertson is blasting gays ... and not in the usual Bible-thumping way -- instead he's going off about the benefits of vagina as compared to a man's a**hole.

Robertson went on a rant about religion, homosexuality, and a bunch of other things in an interview with GQ -- saying, "It seems like to me, a vagina -- as a man -- would be more desirable than a man's anus. That's just me."

He adds, "There's more there! She's got more to offer. I mean, come on dudes! But hey, sin: It's not logical, my man."

Phil continued his verbal attack by claiming society's become too accepting of sin. He says, "Start with homosexual behavior and just morph out from there. Bestiality, sleeping around with this woman and that woman and those men ... they won't inherit the kingdom of God. It's not right."

An openly gay couple on A&E's "Storage Wars: New York" is NOT offended by the homophobic comments made by fellow A&E'er and "Duck Dynasty" star Phil Robertson -- telling TMZ, they just feel bad for him ... because man ass beats vagina any day of the week.

Chris Morelli and Tad Eaton tell us, "We could give a s**t what he thinks ... [man ass] is tighter."

As we reported, Phil talked about how a vagina is more desirable than a man's anus, and how homosexuality and bestiality are the same sin.

But Chris and Tad aren't fazed, telling us, "You can't go through life worrying what other people think. That's their values and that's what they think ... as long as they're not nasty to people ... We're not offended at all."

In fact, Chris and Tad say they're still big fans of Phil: "We like Phil. We like the show. We like the fact that they are very godly. When we watch the show and see them say grace, we feel the same way."

Winged animals don't stand a chance ... because the boys from "Duck Dynasty" have the Lord on their side ... they're not afraid to yell it from the pulpit.

And the church said ... QUACK, QUACK!!

Here's something you probably didn't know: the stars of "Duck Dynasty" are hardcore Christian evangelists who frequently preach at their local church ... and TMZ has video of some of last weekend's sermons.

A ministry assistant at White's Ferry Road Church of Christ in West Monroe, LA tells TMZ, Phil Robertson and his family have been active at the church for more than 30 years.

We're told Phil regularly gives fiery sermons -- but last weekend, the entire family joined in, when the church celebrated Duck Commander Sunday ... a yearly tradition where the entire Robertson family preaches to the congregation in full camo (not kidding).

Funny... we're told the Duck Commander Sunday tradition existed long before the A&E reality show.

"Duck Dynasty" stars Korie Robertson and Willie Robertson just alighted on the swamps of Washington, D.C. ... for an appearance at the White House Corresopndents' Dinner!

Just don't tell Tom Brokaw -- as we previously reported, the legendary newsman is boycotting the event after Lindsay Lohan made an appearance last year ... and that was the LAST STRAW.

But that doesn't faze the Robertsons ... they say they're going to raise the bar ... and they've got something LiLo doesn't ...