Rowdy Robertson, son of ‘Duck Dynasty’ stars Willie and Korie Robertson, recently revealed on TikTok Live that his famous parents sent him away to boarding school as a teen because of his bad behavior and because he’s gay.
For those unfamiliar with the Robertson Family tree, Willie and Korie are parents to six children– three of whom were adopted, including Rowdy. According to Lilly Archive on YouTube, Rowdy’s biological mother went to prison in 2002 when he was an infant, while his biological father died when Rowdy was 10. Rowdy— who is now 23— was adopted by the Robertsons around the age of 13.
While Rowdy has mostly steered clear of the spotlight, he recently revealed on TikTok Live that when he was 16, he was sent by the Robertsons to Master’s Ranch Christian Academy (MRCA). The school describes itself online as a “boys ranch and therapeutic boarding school in Missouri” with a mission “to strengthen character, faith, and relationships.”
According to Rowdy, he was sent to the troubled boys’ ranch due to his poor behavior and same-sex attraction.
“ … so, I got sent [to MRCA] for one, being a little snot, and two, it was partially because of me being gay, but mainly because I was a little snot,” Rowdy claimed.
According to Rowdy, who remained at MRCA until he was 18, people would “constantly yell” at him at the boarding school, which caused him to frequently be on edge. However, he said “being on the spectrum” may have also contributed to his reaction to people yelling. (Interestingly, MRCA insists on its website that while at the boarding school, attendees will “listen to calm words of instruction, not tones of anger.”)
“ … I’ve allowed myself to, like, understand that trauma isn’t my fault and I’ve allowed myself to grow from it,” Rowdy said of his MRCA experience.
“ … therapies helped that and actually being able to sit down with my mom and actually talk to her in a neutral zone and actually tell her about all the stuff that happened allowed me to actually grow from it to actually be able to speak it out,” he said.
During his Live, Rowdy claimed that he “faked [his] way” to get out of MRCA and admitted to “getting sneakier” about the way he portrayed certain things in order to be able to come home.
“ … I was so miserable there,” he said. “And I was like, if I’m going to get my way out of here, I’m going to just fake it, because they can’t change me being me, so I’m just gonna have to make them think I [changed], so I just had to act.”
Rowdy also shared his experience of coming out to his family.
“Some people were [accepting] from the get-go and some people I’ve never told because it’s obvious they don’t like [homosexuality],” he said. “So, there’s some people I choose to share that part of my life with because I know that, even if they aren’t accepting of it, they’re not going to view me any differently compared to the people who I know that are completely against it and they think all the people like that are disgusting.
“I have to pick and choose my battles there,” he continued.
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(Rowdy’s late grandfather, Phil Robertson, was very vocal about being against homosexuality. In an infamous 2013 interview with GQ magazine, Phil stated that homosexuality leads to bestiality, adultery and other unsavory acts. He was suspended from the show for several episodes before being brought back. He did not apologize for his words— which also contained racially insensitive statements– and continued to speak out against homosexuality.)
Anyway, Rowdy went on to say that he has told some of his siblings that he is gay, and that those siblings have been accepting. (Rowdy’s sister, Sadie Robertson is the most public of his siblings. She— as well as his brother John Luke and other sister Bella— grew up on ‘Duck Dynasty.’ Rowdy, Will Jr. and Rebecca— all of whom are adopted— did not as appear often on the family’s TV shows.)
“The ones that I haven’t told, they probably already know just from everybody else in the family that does know, so I’m not really worried about people knowing [I’m gay] or not … .” he said.
While some of the Robertsons may be accepting of his homosexuality, Rowdy was unsure if his family would be OK with him bringing a male partner to Robertson family gatherings. He noted, though, that most of his family will still try to “be respectful about it” even if they don’t agree with something.
“I think they would be nice about it and let [my male partner come to events] but I don’t know if they’d be accepting,” he said.
Back in March, Rowdy’s sister Sadie spoke about him in an interview done to promote the second season of the family’s spinoff, ‘Duck Dynasty: The Revival.’ (Rowdy made a rare appearance on Season 2, during an episode in which Willie and Korie visited him at college, which happens to be their alma mater.)
“We’re so proud of Rowdy. He is in college right now, doing such a good job committing to that and so he doesn’t live here [in Louisiana] like the rest of us. Hopefully he can finish school soon and strong,” Saide told Parade.
Rowdy noted that he does have a relationship with his family still, and he’s thankful for them.
“I still go home and see them sometimes,” he said. “Yes, they are good to me and they actually do a lot for me and I am so grateful for it. I would not be here where I am right now without them. And I recognize that and I do not take that for granted.”
You can watch clips of Rowdy’s Live below.
RELATED STORY: It’s a Girl! 19-Year-Old ‘Duck Dynasty’ Star Priscilla Robertson Welcomes First Child with Boyfriend Dillon Nash
(Photos: TikTok; Instagram; YouTube; A&E)
65 Responses
Ashley, you can delete me all you want but that still doesn’t change THE FACT that ANYONE that lives this way or accepts/agrees with it IS going to hell!!!
I pray you will find the ONE true God. Only then will you truly understand that the Bible was never intended to excuse, or spread, hate or abuse. It was intended to guide the reader in the right direction. To God. It’s an individual journey, not an outward one.
There are some really vile, ignorant, homophobic bigots in the comment section. Yikes. Jesus would be ashamed of you.
We’re supposed to stand against it…He wouldn’t be ashamed of those that do…but He would be ashamed if people who live that way or agree/accept it.
My son is gay and when he told me, I was loving and accepting without a single hesitation. I told him that I loved him when I thought he liked girls, why on earth would him not liking girls change MY love for HIM? He said that my acceptance of him gave him the confidence to be himself and not care what others would say. We put God first in all we do, and my son and I both know that he wouldn’t be gay if that wasn’t Gods plan for him. Because God doesn’t make mistakes. Anyone who preaches hatred toward lgbtq while also claiming that is what God would want, clearly doesn’t know God. Period.
So it seems like even though they don’t like/agree with his sexual orientation, they still love him and accept him as a person and he’s glad he’s a part of their family.
As for the boarding school, he says himself the main issue was him “being a little snot” (so bad behavior) and he’s since talked about his experience there with Korie privately. His parents may not have realized what it was like while he was there since it’s advertised differently.
All-in-all, this seems like a healthy situation now. They didn’t disown him or mistreat him, they’ve seemingly worked through the stuff about the boarding school, and he’s still a welcome and loved part of their family. On his side, he’s also respectful of their beliefs and not demanding that they throw their own convictions out the window just because he’s gay.
I really don’t like this family but at least they love their son enough to try and help him instead of playing into his delusions like so many others these days
Of course that backwards family is full of bigots and racists. And of course that network gave them a platform. Disgusting
Seriously? Can you be more ignorant? Speaking on something you clearly make assumptions about because you’ve never bothered to learn anything about them. The Robertsons love first. Skin color is a non-issue and if you knew anything about them that would be obvious. As for the “bigots”, obviously that is your mindset against a Christian’s belief. Homosexuality is a sin, just like sex before marriage, murder, adultery, stealing, lying, etc. We are ALL imperfect people who struggle with our own sins, what allows us freedom from those sins is Jesus Christ. Allowing Him into our hearts, to change our lives and strive to live in a way that honors God. We ALL sin & fall short of the glory of God but we can all be justified by the GRACE of God. So cool it with your uninformed, hateful comments. You’re no better than anyone else.
VERY WELL SAID!!!
Jesus Christ. Do you hear how arrogant you sound? You don’t get to invalidate everyone else’s experiences, but your own. Express how you feel, by all means, but maybe add a sprinkle of humility that you could be wrong.
Are you saying din first- get forgiven later- because I think God addressed that is a NO NO- you are held accountable if you knowingly sin.
Hebrews 10:26 states that if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins. This verse emphasizes the seriousness of willful sinning after understanding God’s truth.
And on the subject of homosexuality:
Leviticus 18:22 stating, “You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination.” Other references can be found in the New Testament, such as in Romans 1:26-27.
Don’t ever ever use Jesus name to lie- that is the unforgivable sin of using his name in vain.
You can justify your brainwashing…. But clearly the Roberson don’t. You love the person as I said and hate the things they do and speak out against it. I have good friends who are gay, they don’t want to be gay, they are good friends and I love them but do not accept what they do- and I will never allow them to flaunt it- that is the erosion of society. We heterosexuals don’t go around flaunting our sex to the world- it’s obscene. Pride Month is obscene….. especially now they are pushing it to children!
I AGREE!!!
2 of Willie and Korie’s kids aren’t white and 1 of Jep and Jess’s kids isnt white, and some of the family’s friends are black, so how are they racist? Explan
Thomas Jefferson had kids that weren’t white.
Are we saying he wasn’t racist?
Yep!!!
We’re going to explore what racism is. Per Merriam-Webster:
1.) A belief that race is a fundamental determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race.
2.) Behavior or attitudes that reflect and foster this belief : discrimination, prejudice, or violence against people because of their race.
3.) The systemic oppression of a racial group to the social, economic, and political advantage of another.
Number three is particular is almost a working definition of slavery in itself.
I would be fascinated to see an explanation of how his owning of slaves does not in any way qualify under the literal definition of slavery.
YAY ATOMIC CITY KNOWS WHAT A DICTIONARY SAYS/LOOKS LIKE…NOW ALL HE/SHE HAS TO DO IS KNOW WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS/LOOKS LIKE AND THEYLL BE ALL SET!!!
Ha, I figured he was gay years ago. There were some pictures on Korie’s instagram of him on his birthday one year with another obviously gay guy, and then more at a Christmas Eve function a few years back. One way you can also tell a guy is gay is if they wear an earring only in their right ear.