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‘Duck Dynasty’: Twitter Blocked #IStandWithPhil Content, Flagged It As Spam, Reinstated It

By Patricia Didelot
Published on: 02:22 PST, Dec 24, 2013

The Duck Dynast controversy continues claiming victims, now Twitter is in hot water for reportedly blocking content to the IStandWithPhil.com page created to support Phil Robertson and flagging it as spam.

The Hollywood Reporter and Fox News reported on Tuesday that those trying to post links to the pro-Phil Robertson site were prevented from doing so by Twitter.

Does Twitter not stand with Phil?

According to Fox, for a brief time on Monday, those who were voicing their support for the Duck Dynasty were prohibited to do so as Twitter had blocked the link to the page.

After Phil Robertson supporters noticed, the block was reversed late on Tuesday.

A Twitter spokesperson explained that an outside organization that tracks spam sources had ‘mistakenly’ flagged the URL as spam.

“We have restored access and apologize for the error,” the spokesperson said, according to THR.

The supportive website and subsequent hashtag #IStandWithPhil, were established shortly after A&E suspended the Duck Dynasty star for controversial comments he made to GQ magazine regarding homosexuality.

Robertson’s comments have created a firestorm of controversy leading to the network’s suspension of the star from the show, which resumes with its fifth season on January 15 and had recorded most of the season prior to the suspension.

Following Phil Robertson’s comments, it seems everyone has an opinion one way or another and they want to voice it, especially on social media.

Twitter is the place to go for that sort of thing, so when the millions that support the Duck Dynasty patriarch were blocked from doing so, they immediately brought attention to the problem.

So what are Twitter users saying about their favorite social network after the discovery that those using the #IStandWithPhil links were blocked for a time?

Here is the mood on Wednesday morning:

It appears many believe that Twitter blocking the #IStandWithPhil links from being posted, was intentional and an attempt by the super popular social network site to censor their free speech. And so, the Duck Dynasty controversy fallout continues.

The restaurant chain Cracker Barrel was forced to reverse its decision to remove all Duck Dynasty merchandise from their shelves, after customers voiced their displeasure and GLAAD, the gay advocacy group, who has led the offensive in attacking the reality TV star, is receiving unprecedented backlash from criticizing Phil Robertson’s comments.

Robertson has said he will not back down from his comments, in which he said in part:

“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.”

One thing is clear, the Duck Dynasty conversation is not going away anytime soon. Phil Robertson and his family are enjoying the attention and A&E will most likely benefit in the ratings come January.

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