ONE DIRECTION SINGER UNDER FIRE FOR PRAISING DUCK DYNASTY

Liam Payne, a member of the boy band One Direction, has been caught up in the fallout over Duck Dynasty patriarch Phil Robertson’s anti-gay remarks in a magazine interview. After Payne tweeted his support for the show last week (“huge love to you/your family huge respect for your business prosperities [sic] and the family values you still all behold [sic]. big fan,” he wrote in a tweet to Willie Robertson), gay-rights groups quickly took to Twitter to protest. Payne initially responded, “Being a fan of someones show and the way they still hold a family together doesnt mean i am ok with all they say.” He followed with a barrage of defensive tweets, including one that said, “I know I’m playing into your hands writing these tweets but I’m sick of stupid stories it’s time you all grow up.” Eventually, Payne stopped tweeting but the firestorm his remarks touched off did not die out. On MTV’s website one fan wrote, “Phil Robertson believes Homosexuality is a ‘sin,’ yes, but that is because of the Bible. (I personally do not read the bible, nor any other holy book.) You cannot expect someone to just though [sic] their beliefs out the window just because SOMEONE SAYS TO.” But another wrote, “Liam has shown support for a person that has spread ignorance and hate about a LARGE group of people, and furthermore he isn’t being clear on where he stands regarding said group, just that he is being judged.” And Willie Robertson joined in, “Congrats to u boys as well. Y’all keep rockin, we’ll keep quackin. Stay strong in this nutty world,” he tweeted.