Willie Robertson, one of the stars of Duck Dynasty, was invited by Rep. Vance McAllister (R-La.) to attend Tuesday night’s State of the Union address, Deadline reports.
Robertson, who is CEO of the family’s company, Duck Commander, will be one of the more "celebrity"-status individuals there. Another one will be openly gay NBA player Jason Collins, invited by first lady Michelle Obama.
McAllister’s choice of invitee is certainly interesting, considering it was only last month that the Robertson-family patriarch, Phil, got the brand in trouble after a GQ interview revealed some of his more problematic views toward the LGBT and black communities. A&E suspended Phil from the show, initially "indefinitely," but that decision was reversed with just as much haste.
According to Deadline, McAllister is simply returning a favor to the Robertson clan, since Republicans have credited Duck Dynasty with the assist that helped the rookie politician win the election and snatch the seat in the House of Representatives.
Now, the entertainment site points out, it’s the Duck Dynasty clan’s turn to cash in on that favor in the form of a little good press, considering that the show posted its first year-to-year declines since Phil’s controversial comments.
Read more at Deadline.