Duck Dynasty takes a fall in the ratings after family patriarch Phil Robertson used his Christian faith to justify vile anti-gay bigotry, equating homosexuality to bestiality, and comparing LGBT people with drunkards, thieves, prostitutes, and adulterers.

A self described “Bible thumper,” Robertson was widely condemned after making inflammatory and insensitive remarks about gay people and African Americans in an interview published in January’s GQ Magazine.

PolitcusUSA reports that after Robertson’s racist and homophobic remarks appeared in the GQ interview, Duck Dynasty’s viewership dropped by nearly 50%:

When Duck Dynasty returned for their fourth season last year, their premiere episode was watched 11.77 million people. After Phil Robertson’s racist and homophobic remarks season five debuted to 8.5 million viewers. The second episode of the season dropped to 6.65 million viewers. The third episode stayed nearly even with episode two at 6.7 million viewers. By the fourth episode the show rebounded to 7.49 million viewers, but last night’s fifth episode dropped to new low of 6.51 million viewers.

For many, Robertson became a symbol of Christian hate and bigotry after he used his Christian faith to justify his anti-gay sentiment, equating homosexuality to bestiality, and comparing LGBT people with drunkards, thieves, prostitutes, and adulterers.

And while many, if not all viewers, found Robertson’s obnoxious Christian bigotry too much to stomach, Robertson still enjoys support from many conservative Christians, including Mike Huckabee, Sarah Palin, and the Westboro Baptist Church.