“Daily Show” comedian Jon Stewart defended homophobic “Duck Dynasty” patriarch Phil Robertson in a segment cheering freedom of speech and poking fun at loudmouth TV personalities — like himself.
“I think what the guy said is ignorant but I also have an inclination to support a world where saying ignorant sh*t on television doesn’t get you kicked off that medium,” Stewart said, shrugging his shoulders with a mock-guilty facial expression, on Thursday.
He added, “I guess I stand with the free speech absolutists of Fox News who don’t believe we should pressure people to have to adhere to cultural norms of speech.”
Comedian Stephen Colbert, of “The Colbert Report,” had his own goofy take on the controversy – in which Robertson was suspended from the duck hunting reality show for making anti-gay remarks.
“This is a terrible day for Americans although admittedly a great day for ducks,” Stephen Colbert joked.
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But while comedians spoofed the scandal, die-hard fans were not laughing.
A&E Network was blasted with death threats on Thursday from fans angered by its decision to boot Robertson, according to Deadline.com.
The threats frightened network honchos so much, the channel was forced to increase security at its headquarters in Manhattan.
The controversy began earlier this week when Robertson compared homosexuality to bestiality in a GQ interview.
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“It seems like, to me, a vagina — as a man — would be more desirable than a man’s anus. That’s just me . . . But, hey, sin, it’s not logical,” Robertson, 67, told the mag.
Asked what he finds sinful, he said, “Start with homosexual behavior and just morph out from there . . . Bestiality, sleeping around with this woman and that woman and that woman and those men.”
His statements sparked outrage, prompting the network to place him on “indefinite hiatus” on Wednesday.
No formal meetings were scheduled on Friday between A&E and the Robertson family.
But the Robertsons hinted it won’t continue to do a show without Phil, saying it “cannot imagine” the program without him.