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David and Jason Benham, whose series was dropped by HGTV allegedly because of the overtly Christian twin brothers’ anti-gay views, are in discussions to bring their show to another network, The Hollywood Reporter has learned.
The brothers also said on The O’Reilly Factor on the Fox News Channel on Friday that “a couple” of networks are pursuing them.
To pursue a deal with another network, the Benhams have been speaking with Faith Driven Consumer, an advocacy group best known for a controversial poll disparaging the Paramount film Noah, and for collecting 250,000 signatures in defense of Duck Dynasty after star Phil Robertson made remarks critical of homosexuality.
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Faith Driven Consumer has launched a petition drive in support of the Behnams that so far boasts 10,000 signatures.
“We are brokering a possible deal between them and their show and an alternative network to HGTV,” said Faith Driven Consumer founder Chris Stone, who declined to say which network the brothers are in discussions with. “Whether it’s HGTV or the network we’re talking about, we want to see them on TV.”
Flip It Forward, which was dropped by HGTV before a single episode had aired, follows the Benham brothers as they help various families transform fixer-uppers into dream homes.
On The O’Reilly Factor on Friday, the brothers explained that HGTV had vetted them and knew of their conservative views about marriage and abortion, and that a deal was still in place until this week, when activists “bullied” the network into dumping them. David Benham said there were no hard feelings and praised the free market that allowed HGTV to do what it thought best for its business.
“We’re not victims. We’re not crying,” said David Benham. “Thumbs up to HGTV.”
The brothers are the sons of Flip Benham, who heads the anti-abortion group Operation Save America. Liberal groups and gay activists have noted for several days that David Benham was at a 2012 rally organized by his dad when he said: “We have no-fault divorce; we have pornography and perversion; we have homosexuality and its agenda that is attacking the nation.”
Email: Paul.Bond@THR.com
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