Phil Robertson, the businessman, and patriarch of the family of the reality television show Duck Dynasty, has died at the age of 79. His death was confirmed by his daughter-in-law, Korie Robertson, in a touching statement.
“We rejoice today that our grandfather, husband, and father, Phil Robertson, is with the Lord,” the statement read. “Thank you to all of those who have lovingly supported us with prayer. His strong faith and message of grace touched countless lives.”
Cause of Death Not Yet Disclosed
Although the official cause of death has not been revealed, Robertson’s son, Jase, shared in December that his dad was in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease. The family has not confirmed whether that condition contributed to his death.
According to CNN, Phil Robertson started Duck Commander, a company specializing in duck calls and hunting equipment. He was a duck hunter at heart and a Christian to the core, and these formed the basis of Duck Dynasty, the A&E show that ran from 2012 and 2017. The show chronicled the close-knit Robertson family and their growing outdoor business.
Controversial Moment in the Limelight
In 2013, Robertson faced backlash for inflammatory remarks about homosexuality made during an interview with GQ magazine. A&E briefly suspended him from the show, but the network later resumed filming with the full family.
The Robertson family issued that a private service will be conducted, with arrangements for a public memorial to be revealed in the next few days.
“We know Phil touched a lot of lives,” the family stated. “We appreciate his legacy and look forward to celebrating him with everyone who loved him.
