All the Quacks
The Robertson fortune was built solely off of one thing: duck calls. It’s a pretty crazy thing for an entire fortune to be built off of, but that’s exactly how this family can afford to live the over-the-top lifestyle that they choose to live. But while the Robertsons may seem pretty wild, to say the least, that doesn’t mean that they aren’t also educated. In fact, the family’s patriarch, Phil, not only went to college, but he was actually his school’s star quarterback.
The NFL even tried to draft him directly from Louisiana State, but he turned down the offer because football season and duck hunting season interfere with one another. Phil launched his company all the way back in the early 1970s, but it wasn’t until 2012 that it was popularized by the hit reality show.
Bushy Tales
Jase Robertson, one of the beloved brothers on the show, is known for his jokes and his fluffy beard, among many other things. Fans have come to know and love his character, fuzz and all. So, they were in for quite a surprise when he told them he was going to lose it. There were mixed feelings from across the board about it.
Some fans were really looking forward to seeing Jase with zero facial hair, while others were teary-eyed even thinking about the prospect of him getting rid of the beard. The results of the transformation were so shocking that even his own wife admitted it was hard to recognize him without the beard!
The Famous Fuzz
The crazy-long and super recognizable chin full of hair isn’t exclusive to Jase – it’s a Robertson family staple. Most of the men in the family sport the beard, or at least have (or will) for a portion of their lives. In fact, the long facial locks have become so popularly attached to the family that they won’t even talk about shaving.
At least, they wouldn’t until Jase made the announcement that he was going to be losing his beard. The shock that fans first exhibited was understandable, considering how unheard of this move was amongst the family. Although, he wouldn’t be the only one in the group to decide to go with a more clean-cut look.
Married at a Young Age
Phil Robertson married his wife under unconventional circumstances, as far as modern-day marriages go. Miss Kay, Robertson’s wife and resident matriarch, was only 15 years old at the time they tied the knot. The show features the families of their 4 grown children, Jep, Jase, Willie, and Alan, as they pursue the family business of duck hunting.
Some of the family members have gained quite a following since beginning their journey on the show. Willie’s daughter, Sadie, appeared on the hit show "Dancing with the Stars." But how would their fans know who to follow, if they didn’t have their famous beards? And what would happen when they decided to get rid of them?
Speak No Evil
Fans may be aware of the controversy that arose when Phil Robertson made anti-LGBTQ+ comments during his interview with GQ magazine, in January 2013. The family backed him up in a statement that they released following the incident, saying that the remarks stemmed from his literalistic beliefs in one of the many versions of the Christian bible. The situation angered people so much that the series was actually pulled from the air for a while.
In fact, ratings actually dropped quite a bit in the aftermath of that interview as well. But the show did see the completion of a successful 11 seasons before they finally called it quits. So, did Jase decide to shave his beard because he was no longer going to be on TV?