According to one report I saw, A&E had a "handler" on-hand who, at one point, permitted ol' Phil and the interview to wander off by themselves, which is when Phil made the statements in question. I've seen someone speculate that Phil drove off in one of his two-seat swamp buggies with the feller, as he is so fond of doing.
Phil is absolutely irrepressible by nature, so this was bound to happen once he granted--and A&E permitted--the interview.
As for A&E "allowing" the interview: what I don't get is what gives A&E the contractual right to attempt to prevent or moderate Phil from speaking his mind in whatever forum he wishes. I've seen references to standard contract boilerplate, but I haven't actually seen the verbiage. Anyway, A&E's attempt to censor what he can say is purely subjective--they can say he's violative of his contract, but he can dispute it, and then where are they?
A bit off topic, but I felt compelled to respond in a small way; I’ve been around local bands for 40+ years, sound, lights, etc. Ever since Jimi played the “Star Spangled Banner” entirely with feedback, the high school dance promoters always made the band sign a “morality clause”, no “F-bombs”, etc. Morality? Whatever they deemed it to be. You just kind of toed the line.