‘Duck Dynasty’ stars book Fox News interview for New Year’s special

“Duck Dynasty’s� Willie and Korie Robertson will go on Fox News to talk about their embattled patriarch, Phil Robertson, in an interview during the network’s New Year’s special Tuesday night.

This will mark the first TV appearance by the A&E show’s stars since Phil Robertson was suspended because of inflammatory comments he made about blacks and gays in an interview with GQ. His ban from the show was lifted late last week.

Willie, the chief executive of the family’s duck call business Duck Commander, is one of Phil’s sons and Korie is Willie’s wife. The couple will discuss the controversy with Fox News personalities Bill Hemmer and Elisabeth Hasselbeck.

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The Robertson family previously weighed in on the controversy through a statement on their Duck Commander website following the suspension. “While some of Phil’s unfiltered comments to the reporter were coarse, his beliefs are grounded in the teachings of the Bible,� they said.

The New Year ball-drop special airs from 9 p.m. Tuesday to 12:30 a.m. Wednesday, but the network did not say exactly when the interview will run.

Phil Robertson was reinstated to “Duck Dynasty� last week, clearing the way for the family to film the money-making series, and drawing the ire of gay rights advocates.

A&E said it spoke with “numerous advocacy groups� and will air public service announcements to promote “unity, tolerance and acceptance.�

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