One Direction member Liam Payne is being called a homophobic.
According to ABC News, the boy band member was under attack by critics for reaching out to "Duck Dynasty" star Willie Robertson on Twitter Saturday and commending him on his "family values" presented on A&E hit series.
Payne's original tweet read: "@williebosshog huge love to you/your family huge respect for your business prosperities and the family values you still all behold. big fan."
The exchange happened weeks after Robertson's father, Phil, was heavily criticized for calling homosexual behavior "sinful" and placing their actions in the same category as bestiality and promiscuity, during an interview with GQ.
Phil's comments led him being briefly suspended from the show. "Duck Dynasty" recently returned to A&E with lower ratings following controversial comments about gays and blacks. Payne quickly defended his original comment in a series of subsequent tweets.
"Being a fan of someones show and the way they still hold a family together doesnt mean i am ok with all they say," he wrote in response to the backlash. "Again i just like the show and i love when families stick together, i havent said i agree with all that theyve ever said."
The 20-year-old singer said critics misunderstood his remarks for an endorsement of Robertson family politics.
"Oh my god can someone literally not be a fan if a show without bring labeled WTf I bought dinner the other day it made a news story," he wrote on Sunday. "What I gotta do to please you bastards I'm a 20 year old just living life as you did when u where twenty but in extraordinary circumstances. I can't do anything without being judged u try that and write about it. And I know I'm playing into your hands writing these tweets but I'm sick of stupid stories it's time you all grow up."
"I just watched a show and I liked it as most people do stop sitting in my twitter and do your research #lazyjournos," he added.
Payne's Twitter rant did not go unnoticed by the Robertsons, who told Payne to "stay strong."
"@Real_Liam_Payne Thanks bro. Congrats to u boys as well. Y'all keep rockin, we'll keep quackin. Stay strong in this nutty world," Willie responded Sunday.
Last week, Payne apologized after posting a photo of himself standing on the ledge of a London building.
"I regret being there and having a photo taken. ... It was a stupid and irresponsible thing to do," he wrote.
