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Things That Went On Behind the Scenes of Duck Dynasty

While the actual show has become less popular than before, Duck Dynasty was, at one time, all the rage on TV. The show was based on the real-life Robertson family of West Monroe, Louisiana. Their very well-known hunting supply business, called Duck Commander, is a real place and was where the majority of the show was filmed, along with their personal homes. The Robertsons quickly stole American’s hearts and gave people a thing or two to chuckle over.  

However, not everything ended up being so real on this reality show. Sometimes, things behind the scenes painted a much different picture than we were getting on screen. Here are 30 little-known facts from behind the scenes of Duck Dynasty

The beards were contractual.

The beards were contractual.

Yes, you read it right. The family was contractually required to keep the beards for the duration of filming. Despite the fact that they were required for continuity of story and keeping with the backwoods feel of the show, it's shocking that they couldn’t do what they wanted with their facial hair. 

Lou Rocco/Disney General Entertainment Content/Getty Images

Duck Commander does millions in business.

Duck Commander does millions in business.

During the height of the show in 2012, Duck Commander (and their other company, Buck Commander) brought in more than $40 million in revenue. The A&E network made a killing selling commercials at $180k a pop during the show, and money flowed. 

(Spatms, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons)

Phil Robertson was a rebel in his youth.

Phil Robertson was a rebel in his youth.

While we’ve seen patriarch Phil decrying the morals of America, it's important to note that he was quite the deviant as a younger man with drinking and carousing. It’s also rumored he had a mean streak and wasn’t shy about it.  It was his association with future wife Kay that helped turn his life around after a short separation in their marriage.

(Portrait taken by Edward Vantine Studios, Inc. of Hamilton NY. Yearbook produced by students of Louisiana Tech, Barbara Butler, Editor and Kenneth Hewins, Faculty Adviser., Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons)

Phil and Kay got married when she was 14.

Phil and Kay got married when she was 14.

While they’ve had their ups and downs, it's important to remember that their relationship began when Kay was only 14 and not a legal adult. The family believes that couples should marry in their teens. Phil even threw Miss Kay and her kids out once.

(Gage Skidmore/Phil Robertson, Kay Robertson & David Bossie/CC BY-SA 2.0 DEED/Flickr)

Phil Robertson grew up in abject poverty.

Phil Robertson grew up in abject poverty.

As a true rags-to-riches story, Phil Robertson grew up in very humble beginnings. He was one of seven children in rural Louisiana and grew up without modern conveniences like electricity, plumbing, toilets, or bathtubs—stating that they lived like 1850 instead of 1950. He worked very hard to secure a living and future for his family and sons.

(Image via Gurney Productions/A&E)

Phil played football with an NFL great.

Phil played football with an NFL great.

Phil played football in high school and rubbed shoulders with future great HOF Terry Bradshaw. He also joined Terry and played starting quarterback just 30 miles away at Louisiana Tech University before Bradshaw was drafted.

(Students of Louisiana Tech, Barbara Butler, Editor and Kenneth Hewins, Faculty Adviser., Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons)

The family is as religious as they claim.

The family is as religious as they claim.

As we see, the whole family is deeply committed to their evangelical faith. Phil has performed more than 300 baptisms in the river near his house.  The family and several friends were baptized by Phil and continue in their steadfast faith today.

JIM WATSON/AFP/Getty Images

Uncle Si was camera shy.

Uncle Si was camera shy.

Despite becoming a breakout star, Uncle Si was originally super shy in front of cameras.  His camera-averse reactions led the producers to hide cameras in order to capture him unaware in candid moments.

(Image via Gurney Productions/A&E)

Uncle Si is "secretly" married.

Uncle Si is "secretly" married.

Uncle Si became one of the characters on the show that many women swooned over. He got so many proposals for companionship that he had to change his profile information on his Facebook to include his wife, who is rarely mentioned on the show.

Ethan Miller/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images

Phil Robertson has a master’s degree.

Phil Robertson has a master’s degree.

Phil Robertson has a master’s degree in education from Louisiana Tech and formerly worked as a teacher prior to founding his million-dollar business. What he does lack is computer and social media skills, denying the need for either.

(Image via Gurney Productions/A&E)

Miss Kay has a favorite meal to cook.

Miss Kay has a favorite meal to cook.

While Kay loves to cook and the entire family can be seen eating around the table, she’s got one dish in particular she’s fond of. She swears by her fried frogs. Cue your "ewwwwws" and grab your bib; those frogs can be juicy!

(Image via Gurney Productions/A&E)

Phil has a son that didn't appear on the show.

Phil has a son that didn't appear on the show.

Phil actually has four sons, but one didn’t appear on the show. Alan decided to opt out, as he's not heavily involved with the family business. Alan has some rather torrid memories of his father at a young age that he prefers not to share along with a very checkered past.

Ethan Miller/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images

Uncle Si has a famous tea cup.

Uncle Si has a famous tea cup.

Si’s tea cup is so famous it has its own Facebook page. It’s also very common in the South—many households have these plastic Tupperware cups from the '70s. Si received his cup from his mother when he was in Vietnam.

(Image via Gurney Productions/A&E)

Willie Robertson has a fancy ride.

Willie Robertson has a fancy ride.

While we only see the Robertsons in trucks or on tricked-out 4-wheelers, Willie has a custom camouflage BMW that he rolls around West Monroe in.

(Image via Gurney Productions/A&E)

Willie and Korie have known each other since grade school.

Willie and Korie have known each other since grade school.

Korie and Willie go all the way back to grade school and credit their knowing one another that long for the success of their marriage. They claim that it’s the "lack of baggage" that one accumulates with other relationships.

(Image via Gurney Productions/A&E)

Jep Robertson was abused as a child.

Jep Robertson was abused as a child.

Jep faced some tragic instances of abuse outside the family as a boy. The surprising detail is that they happened on a school bus, which should have been a safe place, and were perpetrated by an older girl. 

(geopungo/Jep Robertson/CC BY 2.0 DEED/Flickr)

Phil was suspended from the show.

Phil was suspended from the show.

Phil Robertson has been very vocal about his opposition to any type of non-hetero lifestyle. This has caused numerous issues for A&E, who eventually suspended him from the show.

(Gage Skidmore/Phil Robertson/CC BY-SA 2.0 DEED/Flickr)

Uncle Si proposed 100 times.

Uncle Si proposed 100 times.

While the wily Uncle Si appears to be a bachelor on the show, he’s been happily married for more than 40 years. However, he had to ask his wife, Christine, about 100 times to marry him. She declined each time, claiming that she couldn’t have kids. Luckily for them, that was inaccurate, and they had two of their own.

(Image via Gurney Productions/A&E)

Missy and Jase waited for marriage.

Missy and Jase waited for marriage.

Unlike most couples of the modern times, this cute couple waited until marriage to formally consummate the relationship in keeping with their faith and religion. Both kept a "Godly Agreement" to help one another have a happy marriage. 

(Image via Gurney Productions/A&E)

Korie and Willie are college graduates.

Korie and Willie are college graduates.

Korie and Willie Robertson attended Harding University in Searcy, Arkansas. A Church of Christ affiliated school, Willie studied business and eventually graduated from NE Louisiana University (aka University of Louisiana-Monroe).

(Image via Gurney Productions/A&E)

Reed Robertson didn't like the show.

Reed Robertson didn't like the show.

Phil’s oldest grandson, Reed, had difficulty adapting to the fame of the show and declined to appear much. He has been vocal about the negative effects of the show on his mental health and his one-time desire to end his life at 18.

(Image via Gurney Productions/A&E)

Willie's fame led to family issues.

Willie's fame led to family issues.

Willie became the face of the family due to his love of the spotlight and availability for awards shows and just about any public appearance ever. This led to some jealousy and tension with the Robertson men, who tried to stay levelheaded and grounded.

(Gage Skidmore/Willie Robertson/CC BY-SA 2.0 DEED/Flickr)

The family revealed all in books.

The family revealed all in books.

There have been multiple books written about the woes of the Robertson family, including those authored by Si Robertson and Alan Robertson. Within these memoirs, tales of abortion, drinking, marital infidelity, and mental illness are described in detail, which blistered this faithful family.

(Master Sgt. Jason Edwards, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons)

The Robertsons are more influential than you realize.

The Robertsons are more influential than you realize.

You may think this "backwoods" family is just that, but don’t be quick to dismiss them. They are a powerful force in politics and have helped shape the Republican landscape in northern Louisiana for years. 

Matt Sullivan/Getty Images News/Getty Images

The Robertson men enjoy their dip.

The Robertson men enjoy their dip.

While the word on the street is that past instances of drugs and alcohol were done by the time filming started, the boys' addiction to chewing tobacco was not. A&E cuts all scenes where the cast is actively seen dipping, as it didn’t create good visuals for this family of faith. 

(Image via Gurney Productions/A&E)

The Robertsons are genuine duck hunters.

The Robertsons are genuine duck hunters.

That shouldn’t shock anyone reading, but you might not know that the duck hunting experience comes at quite the cost. Many of their duck hunts are done in rural, southern Arkansas at private, borrowed camps—and cost thousands of dollars for a quick weekend out.

(Image via Gurney Productions/A&E)

Justin Martin is an unofficial part of the family.

Justin Martin is an unofficial part of the family.

Martin met the Robertson elders at house church, while he met the boys at a poker game. Justin grew up in the shadow of his duck-hunting legends and was astounded to get along with them so well. One thing led to another, and Martin joined the family business.

(Image via Gurney Productions/A&E)

Sadie Robertson is a fashion star now.

Sadie Robertson is a fashion star now.

Sadie became an instant social media darling due to the success of the show. This young girl enjoyed a brief modeling career and even started designing clothes for Sherri Hill formalwear. Her one rule in designing is that her creations have to be fingertip length.

Ilya S. Savenok/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images

Korie and Willie have an adopted daughter.

Korie and Willie have an adopted daughter.

Rebecca, a foreign exchange student from Taiwan, was adopted by Korie and Willie when she was 16. However, she didn’t appear on the show much due to the fear of anti-Asian racism and overexposure during high school.

(Image via Gurney Productions/A&E)

The show used stunt doubles.

The show used stunt doubles.

Proving that reality TV is not as real as you think, a casting email circulated looking for bearded actors to stand in for the Robertsons at certain times when scenes were considered risky. That’s incredibly odd for a "reality" TV show.

(Image via Gurney Productions/A&E)