“Duck Dynasty” star Phil Robertson has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.
In Friday's episode, “I have no shame towards the Robertson family.” Phil's son Jace revealed the diagnosis on the podcast.
“Phil's not well. I think we've talked about it on the thousandth podcast. We were trying to make a diagnosis, but the doctors said he had some kind of blood disease that caused all kinds of problems. “I'm told it's working,” Jace said.
Phil Robertson was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. (Courtesy of Phil Robertson)
“It's like his symptoms are accelerating and causing problems throughout his body. And he's in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease. So when you put all these things together, it's really not good for him. “He is suffering,” he continued.
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Phil had a prominent role on his Unshamed podcast, but Jace revealed that his failing health meant he literally “couldn't sit down and have a conversation”. She also said her father could barely walk around these days without “screaming in pain.”
“It's kind of accelerated, and it's causing problems throughout his body. And he has early-stage Alzheimer's disease. So when you put all these things together, he's not really in good shape. I am suffering.”
“He misses it. He misses the stories we tell,” Jace said of the podcast.
Members of “A True Robertson Family” included Phil, Jace, Phil's son Alan, and Phil's nephew Zach Dasher.
Jace said a team of doctors told him and his family that there was “no cure” for Phil's illness.
“We're trying to get him a little more comfortable,” he said.
In the podcast episode, Jace said the Robertson family is very grateful for the prayers and support they have received for Phil.
Phil appeared on “Duck Dynasty” from 2012 to 2017. He also founded the Duck Commander Company.
Phil Robertson was temporarily suspended from Duck Dynasty in 2013. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
In 2013, A&E suspended the “Duck Dynasty” patriarch for equating homosexuals to hell-bound sinners in an interview with GQ. There was a huge uproar among legions of defenders who felt the star was being censored by the network, and he was later reinstated.
In 2022, Phil published his book. “No Cancellation: Finding Meaning and Peace in a Culture of Accusation, Shame, and Blame.” We explored how today's cancel culture can confront the Christian faith.
Phil Robertson published his book Uncancelled: Finding Meaning and Peace in a Culture of Accusation, Shame, and Blame in 2022. (Phil Robertson)
“To the people who attacked me, I didn't condemn them,” Robertson told FOX News Digital at the time. “They asked me about a specific sin, homosexual behavior. And they asked me if I thought it was a sin. I thought to myself, that's a strange question to ask someone. But I just quoted a Bible verse…I quoted God's Word I had to say about that sin and nine other sins, but it was on the list of sins…What happened to the higher ups at A&E when we were doing Duck Dynasty? decided to drop the ax on me without researching it first.
The suspension quickly drew praise from gay rights groups. Conservative fans argued that their viewpoints are often ignored by Hollywood and the media. More than 500,000 people have liked an impromptu Facebook page calling for a boycott of the show until Robertson returns.
“They put me on what's called an indefinite hiatus,” Robertson explained. “I said, 'Maybe I'm going to get fired, right?' Hiatus said you're no longer in the program, but nine days later they reinstated me. They just laughed at what I said. As a result, they tried to cancel me, but I still love them, I don't hate anyone.”
Robertson founded the Duck Commander Company. (Getty Images)
“The Bible teaches us to love our neighbors even when we make mistakes,” he said.
Robertson and his extended family became television and pop culture stars in 2012. “Duck Dynasty” set cable ratings records for a nonfiction series.
Season 5 of “Duck Dynasty” saw a significant drop in viewership after Robertson ruffled feathers. new york times Reported. The show officially ended in 2017 after 11 seasons.
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Robertson said he has no regrets about being interviewed by GQ.
Phil Robertson's illness is incurable, says his son Jace. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
“I have no regrets at all, not at all,” he said. “I just kept going. I never called A&E and said, 'What are you doing?'” They came to visit me about 10 days after this was all over. And I said nothing, “Hey guys, have you ever made an angry phone call to fire me?'' They said “Mr. Robertson, you didn't say a word.'' Said. …I quoted a Bible verse that deals with homosexual acts.
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“I just quoted a Bible verse that God wrote through the Apostle Paul by the power of the Holy Spirit…I didn't dream it out of my head. There was nothing more to it than that,” Phil said.
Fox News Digital's Stephanie Nolasco contributed to this report.
