Art Streiber/A&E, NBCThe Robertson family has added another supporter to its flock.
One Direction member Liam Payne caused a bit of a stir on social media on Saturday when he tweeted a message to Duck Dynasty star Willie Robertson. In the message, the singer expressed his support for the family despite the recent controversy surrounding the comments family patriarch Phil Robertson made in an interview with GQ, equating homosexuality to bestiality.
"Huge love to you/your family huge respect for your business prosperities and the family values you still all behold. big fan," he tweeted to Willie.
Soon after, Payne clarified his tweet by posting another message stressing that he doesn't agree with everything the family says.
"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 wrote. (Willie has yet to respond to Payne's tweets.)
Following Phil's statements, A&E suspended the reality star, but quickly lifted it shortly after Christmas amidst fan protest and talk that the family would walk away from the popular reality show. And it seems Payne isn't alone in supporting the family as Duck Dynasty returned to big ratings as its season five premiere attracted 8.5 million viewers. However, those numbers are down from its season four premiere (11.8 million viewers).