The tagline for the wildly popular A&E show Duck Dynasty might have been “Money, Family, Ducks,” but it could have easily been imagined as “Beards, Beers, and Birds.” The Robertson family became notorious for the wild things they would say on the show, and most prominently, their especially scruffy beards and hairdos. Willie Robertson, CEO of the dynasty in question, shocked fans when he cut off his own iconic long hair last year but is now revealing the reason behind the change.
Apparently, the reason wasn’t so clear-cut as it was a sudden whim after the stressors of the pandemic last summer. An ongoing health crisis can do that to a person. In his interview with Taste of Country, Willie Robertson said:
It was probably the combination of COVID-19 and the quarantine and a really hot summer. There was no real plan for it. In a way, I see it as a symbol of life changing. I also see it as a moving on and moving away from Duck Dynasty and where that was.
Post-haircut, Willie Robertson also admitted that he is “loving” not being recognized in public for his signature Duck Dynasty-era beard and long hair anymore. What’s hilarious is that even his wife Korie didn’t recognize him afterward. She said, “I literally walked right past him.” Check out the proof here:
Duck Dynasty came to its conclusion after five years and eleven seasons in 2017. For the most part, the show only engendered constant laughs because of the Robertson family’s natural showmanship, funny euphemisms and crazy antics. But it still had its fair share of controversy, with many people critiquing their outspoken religious and personal beliefs at the time – mostly those of Willie Robertson’s father, Phil.
But it’s fascinating that Duck Commander Co. is attempting to move on from Duck Dynasty as a whole, not just in hairstyle, but in television as well. Willie Robertson and his wife are promoting their upcoming new Facebook Watch show called At Home with the Robertsons. The trailer for the new show stages a complete rebrand of the Duck Dynasty family, as it features them having family-style interviews with the likes of Tim Tebow, Hannah Brown, and other interesting figures from different backgrounds. Robertson said:
The most attractive thing about the show to us is that maybe, it will make a difference in the world and shine the light on some hard topics. Having the chance to invite people in our home is just real disarming to everyone involved. It’s not like social media where people are yelling and screaming at each other. I mean, there is a lot of anger in the world. But if we just sit down and talk together, there is a chance we can all make the world a better place.
It seems that the year 2020 had a transformational effect on not only us regular everyday folks but on the Robertsons as well. The Duck Dynasty icons have pivoted into Red Table Talk territory, and it’s kind of surreal. Make sure to call and invite Jada to dinner, Willie.
