In a new interview, Duck Dynasty Executive Producer Deirdre Gurney recently came to the defense of Phil Robertson, who was briefly suspended by the A&E network after he expressed his Biblical views regarding homosexuality in last year's GQ magazine article.

"I wanted to be able to speak and explain, but we couldn't," said Gurney to The Hollywood Reporter's Reality Roundtable, which included "The Voice" and "Last Call with Carson Daly" host, Carson Daly and "Project Runway" star, Tim Gunn.

"We know our talent. I know Phil Robertson. I know his beliefs. I know how he treats a crew that has several gay people on it and people of different races and people from all different places."

Gurney also talked about how surprised she was regarding the controversy that surrounded the Robertson family's patriarch.

"I don't think anyone expected it to be that kind of a reaction and get that much attention, so no one was prepared with what this really meant," said Gurney.

She revealed that her production company Gurney Productions "were out of it as the production company," despite the fact that she wanted to speak out in his defense in December 2013.

"When this happens with talent or the network, it's really the network's job [to handle it]. We make it for them, but it's their show - it's their job to decide how they want to handle it and what they want to do," said Gurney to the Hollywood Reporter's panel this week. "He has his beliefs and stands by them. But that isn't how he treats people - it is what he thinks. I think there's a separation between what he thinks and how he thinks people should be treated. I don't think he was saying anything about how people should be treated."

Season 6 of the critically acclaimed reality series Duck Dynasty airs Wednesday at 10:00 p.m. EST on the A&E network.