Seeing how Sarah Palin was so quick to defend Duck Dynasty star Phil Robertson after he shared his views on homosexuality in a GQ interview, it didn't come as much of a surprise when the politician was asked during a recent appearance on Fox News' On the Record With Greta Van Susteren, "It's one thing to express your opinion, but do you have any problem with the manner in how he said it?"
What may come as a surprise to some, though, is Palin's response.
"I haven't read the article," she told host Greta Van Susteren. "I don't know exactly how he said it, but what he was doing was in response to a question about a lifestyle that he disagrees with."
Immediately after A&E had suspended Robertson from the show last week, Palin took to social media and wrote, "Free speech is an endangered species. Those 'intolerants' hatin' and talking on the Duck Dynasty patriarch for voicing his personal opinion are taking on all of us."
Palin's daughter, Bristol, also took a similar stance by posting a photo of Robertson on her Facebook page with a caption that read, "I support Phil Robertson and his right to express his faith and beliefs. Shame on A&E."
Meanwhile, a number of Duck Dynasty fans are standing by Robertson as well.
As of Dec. 26, the #IStandWithPhil online petition is just a few thousand signatures short of its 250,000 goal. Per its website, the petition is "demanding the immediate reinstatement" of Robertson, citing what they believe to be the "network's intolerant, discriminatory and punitive treatment" of the reality star.