People: Jim-Bob & Michelle Duggar ‘are just focused on their faith & each other’

duggars people

Much like In Touch Weekly, People Magazine put the Duggars’ House of Horrors on this week’s cover. Unlike In Touch, People Magazine is in bed with the Duggar family, and has been for several years. When last week’s scandal broke, the Duggars gave a series of exclusive statements to People Magazine – People is their media outlet of choice, which is enough reason to side-eye the crap out of whatever People Mag says about them. So what is this week’s People Mag cover story about? Not much, honestly. It’s a recap of all the crap that’s already gone down, with a few sprinkles of new info, like this:

The future of TLC’s 19 Kids and Counting is on shaky ground following the revelation that a felony investigation was opened in 2006 after Josh Duggar was accused by his victims of molesting five underage girls. In statements to PEOPLE, the Duggar family indirectly addressed the closed investigation by referring to the multiple incidents listed in the report unearthed by InTouch Weekly as “teenage mistakes.”

Michelle and Jim Bob are “devastated” over the leak, a source close to the family tells PEOPLE. “They know that they did the best they could, but it doesn’t mean they’re not filled with regret.”

While TLC has pulled reruns of its massive ratings success from the schedule, the network has yet to make any official decision about the future of 19 Kids moving forward.

However, as the source tells PEOPLE, Michelle and Jim Bob are not currently focused on the very real possibility that they’ll lose the TV show on which they’ve built a veritable empire: “Right now they’re just focused on their faith – and each other.”

[From People]

Do you believe that Jim-Bob and Michelle are not concerned about the fate of their reality show? I wonder. People Mag also did a separate story about how TLC is thinking about just making 19 Kids & Counting into a spinoff show about Jessa and Jill and their new families. TMZ’s sources have been saying the same thing for a week, so I believe it. TLC are trying to figure out a way to salvage something off of the sinking Duggar ship. Meanwhile, even more advertisers have announced that they will not air their ads if and when TLC puts 19 Kids & Counting back on the air. So far, this is the list of advertisers pulling out of Cult Duggar: Ace Hardware, David’s Bridal, Pure Leaf Iced Tea, General Mills Inc., Payless Shoesource Inc., Choice Hotels International Inc., CVS, H&R Block, Jimmy Dean, Walgreens ConAgra Foods, Party City, Behr, Ricola and Keurig. Word.

Meanwhile, you know how Jim-Bob took Josh Duggar – who was then 14, I think – to a cop buddy and the buddy didn’t investigate Josh and basically told Josh that it was all good? Later that same cop buddy was found guilty of child p0rn charges and sentenced to jail for more than 50 years. And that same cop buddy is talking to In Touch Weekly. His name is Joseph Hutchens and he was a state trooper at the time of the Duggar incident. Hutchens says that Jim-Bob and Josh lied to him about how many times Josh abused his sisters:

Joseph Hutchens, in his only interview since the Duggar scandal has been uncovered, says that Jim Bob told him about only one incident of molestation and that, in part, is why he decided not to report Josh to the abuse hotline. Hutchens is serving 56 years in prison for child pornography and admits his “reputation is shot.” He was interviewed by a representative of a local law firm for In Touch and promised nothing in return for his recollections.

Hutchens’ failure to report the abuse caused the police to halt their 2006 investigation because the statute of limitations ran out. In the new interview from prison, Hutchens said he was told by Jim Bob and Josh that “Josh had inappropriately touched [redacted] during the time she was asleep. He said he touched her through her clothing and he said it only happened one time.”

He said the fact that it was a one-time incident influenced his decision not to report it. “I did what I thought was right and obviously it wasn’t,” he says. “If I had to do it over again, I would have told him immediately I am going to call the hotline and contacted the trooper that worked those cases and have a full report made. I thought I could handle it myself. I have lost a lot of sleep over it. I am a Christian myself and I worry that something else may have happened. I would be responsible for it, in my opinion, by not reporting it. The young girl should have been my first priority.”

[From In Touch Weekly]

That’s a good lesson for all state troopers, cops, detectives, whatever: stop thinking about how an investigation is going to affect the “poor” perpetrator of said sex crime and think about the actual victims of the crime. As we’ve seen so often, rape culture sadly extends to too many investigators and law enforcement types who care more about how a young rapist/child molester’s life is going to be “ruined” rather than the actual victims.

JD2

Cover courtesy of People, photos courtesy of Duggar social media.

You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.

201 Responses to “People: Jim-Bob & Michelle Duggar ‘are just focused on their faith & each other’”

Comments are Closed

We close comments on older posts to fight comment spam.

  1. Shambles says:

    Lord, I could vomit. I am so sick of these people, Josh included, acting like victims in a situation they are 100% responsible for. They’re “devastated”… Oh, don’t you just feel so sorry for them? Not their daughters, who’s innocence they sacrificed to save their son, and whom they exploit for the sake of a dollar. Even the cop in prison for child p0rn acknowledges the girls (or at least one of them), but their own parents don’t say a word about the children they’re responsible for damaging. Oh, but they’re “filled with regret,” even though they know they “did the best they could”… Because it’s all about Jim Bob and Michelle. Whatever helps you sleep at night, you selfish, disgusting scum.

    • Size Does Matter says:

      They’ve pretty much been focused on themselves and their faith this whole time, which is part of the problem.

      • Shambles says:

        Totally agreed. It’s insulting to the loving, peaceful, kind Christians of the world that these people have the nerve to invoke their faith when they’ve revealed themselves to be nastier than satan himself.

      • Aussie girl says:

        If I learnt anything about Michelle and Jim Knob from this and many conversations we’ve all had on this site, is that they where and have always been focused on their brand and $$$$. I think selling their books and doing their tours have been more important to them than raising the children than their so called faith.

      • Size Does Matter says:

        And to that state trooper – how about you INVESTIGATE instead of taking the fing criminal’s word for what happened?!? And parents, regardless of their faith, have to PARENT and PROTECT their children!!! I’m so disgusted all around!

      • Hannah says:

        Yeah I was going to say they were so focused on themselves they didn’t handle the situation at all.

      • minx says:

        Yep, yep, yep.

      • Hazel says:

        That was my immediate though–they’ve always been focused on their idea of God & each other, to the detriment of their children.

      • GoodNamesAllTaken says:

        Completely agree. We know they aren’t focused on their nine hundred children. They make me sick.

      • Asiyah says:

        I don’t think they’re focused on faith at all. They’re hiding behind it and using it as a shield and also as an excuse for not doing certain things that they should be doing.

      • BooBooLaRue says:

        Testify

      • belle de jour says:

        +10000000. They have their heads shoved exactly where they have been all along.

      • thelazylioness says:

        Sorry to reply to you Size…my phone isn’t giving me options to post. All I want to say is:
        Shaddup already you stupid hypocrites!!!!! Okay I feel better now.

      • Sarah says:

        @ Shambles : Thank you for saying that. I am a Christian and as far as I’m concerned, those dysfunctional people have nothing in common with me. What they call their “faith” is just the crutch they use to justify the harm they do to others. I’ve seen this before and it’s a disservice to every decent person out there no matter what their beliefs. It’s not about what people say that counts; it’s about what people actually do. I used to think the Duggars were weird but harmless. I don’t think that anymore.

    • tifzlan says:

      It’s always been about Jim Bob, Michelle, their reputation and their cash cows – i mean, children. The show was about JB and Michelle, having 50 kids was about JB and Michelle and now this terrible tragedy is also about JB and Michelle. They are so filled with contempt for women that they would sacrifice their own daughters for their own disgusting selves.

    • Talie says:

      Their kids raise each other, so it’s not a surprise these two buffoons aren’t focused on them.

      • Shambles says:

        Good point. They’re the poster-people for “don’t you dare abort your child, but once it’s out of the womb? F@ck that kid.”

      • Annie says:

        Agree. They don’t know how to put their focus on their children. It’s disgusting and just goes to show that the only reason they are producing so many is to add to the “army”. They could care less about them as individuals.

      • Christin says:

        Yeah, when have they really raised those kids? Each new baby was just passed off to an older sibling as another would be produced, and on and on it went.

      • Asiyah says:

        Exactly.

      • Liberty says:

        This.

    • Liberty says:

      Thank you, Shambles, etc. Everything I’m thinking, you said. They disgust me and this underlines it.

    • Tiffany :) says:

      There are no words to describe how selfish these people are.

    • K says:

      The single scariest thing about those statements, which will have been written with professional PR as well as agreed between themselves, was that none of them saw any problem with Josh’s statement that he realised he was going down a road that would ruin his life.

      It would ruin HIS life. That he was sexually assaulting children.

      Because clearly, that’s the major issue of concern with all this – can’t have Joshie ruining his life by sexually assaulting his prepubescent sisters, now can we? That would be so dark and terrible.

      There was a really good, very sad article on Patheos about what Anna Duggar was told prior to the wedding:

      “She now claims that she knew when the courtship began that Josh was a child molester. But I very much doubt that Josh used those words — it is far more likely that he said he had “temptations” to which he “succumbed” but “God is good” and he has “asked for forgiveness.” And, in that culture, she would have had no choice but to accept that for face value, because to do otherwise would be to call Josh a liar and to doubt God’s ability to save. Now she’s found out the truth, she has a few more years of experience, and she’s more trapped than she’s ever been.”

      http://www.patheos.com/blogs/lovejoyfeminism/2015/05/anna-duggar-and-the-silencing-power-of-forgiveness.html

      That completely fits with what they wrote themselves about their courtship on their site:

      Josh: As I became a teenage young man I was constantly tempted to have lots of wrong thoughts, and often battled to keep my heart right…. I often had failures in my early teenage years, but found I had a clear conscience only when I was willing to confess my thoughts and temptations quickly to God & my parents. (1 John 1:9)
      Anna: The first night at the Duggar’s home during Bible time, Joshua shared his testimony. I was encouraged to see that there really was a young man out there who was accountable to his parents and was striving to keep his heart pure.

      https://web.archive.org/web/20150217210352/http://ja20.com/ourstory/

      Repeatedly assaulting little girls was reframed into how he had”lots of wrong thoughts” and needed to “battle to keep his heart right” and what Anna heard about it convinced her that he was this paragon she had always dreamed of discovering, “striving to keep his heart pure”. She was almost unbelievably innocent, and fed such a sanitised version of what had happened it was basically a massive lie of omission. And now she is trapped. Whether she knows it or not – I hope she does, and I hope she can find it within her to leave with her kids. Do a Katie Holmes. But Katie Holmes had a career that was reasonable behind her, and a loving and supportive family well aware of the cult she was living in, and keen to help spring her – Anna has nothing and nobody.

      • Hazel says:

        Yeah, but Katie’s father is a lawyer while Anna’s is s preacher. There’s no hope for her.

  2. Lilacflowers says:

    Perhaps instead of being focused only on their faith and each other, the two of them should start focusing on the damage they have done to the children they brought into this world? So very nice that they’re so upset about the leak. They should be upset about the fact that they birthed a pedophile and let him prey on their other children without doing anything to stop him.

    • Shambles says:

      “They should be upset about the fact that they birthed a pedophile and let him prey on their other children without doing anything to stop him.”

      +1,000,000. Perfectly and beautifully stated.

    • GoodNamesAllTaken says:

      So completely right.

    • Lilacflowers says:

      And I’m not convinced he limited it to the girls. Pedophiles don’t discriminate

      • Jag says:

        Actually, yes, some do go by type.

        He should be in jail! We need to get the laws changed so that there’s no statute of limitations for molestation and rape, ever!

      • lisa says:

        with all their warped ideologies, imagine how hard it would be for a little boy in that family to tell those “parents” that he was abused by another boy?

    • feebee says:

      Did they birth a pedophile or did they just produce one after the fact? Interesting nature v nurture question. I remember a impressive guy (I think psycholog-/psychiatrist or something) did brain scans on himself and some serious criminals and they shared markers in the brain for violence etc. He credits his upbringing for those markers not being switched on (so to speak).

      • Nic says:

        I do think that by sheltering their children to the degree that they do and not allowing them to form age appropriate relationships with the opposite sex contributed to it.

  3. Scal says:

    They are leaning on each other? They are upset about the leak?

    I’m still waiting for them to mention their daughter.

    • INeedANap says:

      DaughterS. Multiple daughters. More than one, and likely all the ones he had at the time.

    • Debbie says:

      Will never happen. It’s their daughters fault don’t you know they dressed to provocatively, they looked at Josh the wrong way, they didn’t lock their doors. My God they made him do it and now look at the pain their sins have caused him. Horrible sluts!

      (Hope the sarcasm was blatant)

      These people are sick, hateful soulless people that if TLC doesn’t pull the entire group from TV I will try to have that channel take off my cable.

      • Sayrah says:

        And now that this has happened they’re all closer to God so isn’t that nice for them?

    • zimmer says:

      Exactly, they’ve always just focused on themselves, their faith and their sex lives. How has anything changed?

  4. SmellyCat says:

    Could these people just go away! So sick of hearing about them!!

    • Shambles says:

      I completely understand your sentiments, and these people make me ill too. But, in this case, I don’t think we should be wishing that they would fade into obscurity like the Kardashians, not just yet. I think we need to keep talking about it, so that these people can be fully exposed for the monsters they are. There are still people supporting them, so those of us with common sense need to make sure our voices are heard– never letting anyone forget the evils of this family.

      • Hannah says:

        Yeah, as much as it sickens me to read about them, I’m glad this Quiverfull BS is coming to light.

      • Kitten says:

        I’m with you guys.

        You know, commenters like GNAT have been saying for a LONG time that these people are terrible, and perhaps even dangerous. For a while, I was kind of ambivalent in that atheist way of “you do you and I’ll do me, believe whatever you want to” because I didn’t think it really affected me one way or the other. Who cares about these religious extremist reality TV people? It’s not like they’re politicians with the power to legislate. How much influence can they really have?

        But as time has passed, I’ve learned from the posts here and from fellow commenters that these people’s actions and beliefs ARE impactful. They have an unfailing and blindly supportive fanbase that seems to not only condone, but admire the behavior of this family. From Michelle Duggar’s transphobic robocalls to Derrick Dillard and other family members’ documented incidents of animal abuse to Josh Duggar’s molestation scandal, it’s clear this family has some serious issues that transcend merely a deep belief in God.
        And if this sick behavior is wholly intertwined with a belief system that seems to value God, men, and procreation above women, animals, and equality then I think it’s clear that these people should be taken off the air and that NO ONE should be looking up to them as examples of “good Christians” much less “good people”. Their twisted sense of “family values” is not something that should be admired or even accepted in our society.

        This is not simply about religion, this is about a family with a very warped sense of right and wrong.

      • Christin says:

        Agree. The depth of this is beyond belief already, and we have probably only scratched the surface. This broader subject may warrant a Going Clear type documentary.

      • Shambles says:

        @Kitten, Brava. Well said. Thanks for sharing your inward journey. It takes a lot of ladyballs to admit that you once thought of things a certain way, but have since discovered that all might not be what it seemed. A lot of folks could take a lesson from you– it’s all about learning and growing.

      • Kitten says:

        @Shambles-Thanks, sista 🙂
        You know, my opinion abut them wasn’t really based on much. And by that I mean that I just didn’t know anything about them except that they were maybe Quiverful, extremely religious, and had a ton of kids. I try to be very accepting and respectful of people’s religious beliefs just as I expect people to respect my LACK of religious beliefs. But truly, it’s been an education to learn about how detrimental this particular belief system can be.

        This is cult-level sh*t, you know?

      • littlestar says:

        I’m an atheist too, and I wish I could be more accepting of people like you are, Kitten. For the most part I’m good with religious people if they keep it to themselves, but I have serious hatred for the Duggars – just thinking about the Duggar girls and how they are denied an actual education and freedom and SELF-DETERMINATION aaaaaaggggghhhhh! Makes me want to punch Jim-Boob in the face.

      • Jenna says:

        This is the horrible miserable awful truth – they are wanting nothing more then for everyone to just shut up and go back to pretending they are perfect shining beacons of moral purity. As much as it makes me want to be sick (doing better actually, I only had to run to the bathroom twice to puke reading this article. Maybe by the weekend I’ll make it just to shaking and wanting to hit things. Positive thinking!) the only way to end this kind of utter evil to to keep a bright harsh light right on it. Make them talk about it. Push for answers. Push for action. Push to stop it. Push… their heads under a handy bucket of water.

        Whatever works.

        If that sounds harsh, blame it on a phone call about them I had earlier. In one sweeping moment I hit a wall finally and in an instant I walked away from 95% of my family because I can’t even marginally support this crap. To hear support coming out of the family members mouth I heard today… I really hate the Duggars. Quiverfull. People who think like this. Live like this. Are like this. Keep the conversation going and maybe one day we can all go quiet knowing its not happening anymore.

    • The Other Katherine says:

      Kitten, I think it’s much easier, as an atheist or agnostic (I’m the latter), to be tolerant of extreme right-wing evangelical Christians’ belief systems if you didn’t grow up around a whole bunch of them and see the impact they have on their children and on the laws that get passed. Not sure whether you grew up in a Bible Belt-type area or not, but I did, and the one thing I agree with people like the Duggars on is that there IS a culture war. And I want to see the Duggars and their ilk lose, for the good of humanity.

      • Kitten says:

        Your comment really resonated with me Katherine. I grew up in an atheist household but in an extremely hardcore Irish Catholic town. Yes I was taunted and called a “devil-worshipper” when I was as young as 5, but while *some* Irish Catholics can be really devout, it’s not quite the same as Duggar cult ness:

  5. LB says:

    It’s great that the parents KNOW they did the best they could but the reality is they did not. So concerned for the perpetrator that they forgot about the victims, several of whom were their own daughters.

    I get the idea that one’s misdeeds in youth could haunt a whole lifetime, fairly or unfairly. But does that logic not extend to the victims? They’ll have to live with what happened to them all their lives. Why didn’t/don’t Jim Bob and Michelle think about that?

    I won’t even get into the hypocrisy (their rigid, public moral stance), which is rightfully being called out.

    • Lilacflowers says:

      They did the best they could to hide what their son did. That comment was about the leak, not about the molestation.

      • LB says:

        Ah reading comprehension and I clearly aren’t seeing eye to eye this morning.

      • Lilacflowers says:

        I think you were trying to give them the benefit of the doubt that somewhere in there they regret not protecting their daughters, like most humans would. But they aren’t most humans.

    • L says:

      Here’s the thing I want to say to the Duggars. I don’t think one’s ‘teenage mistakes’ should haunt their whole lives either, but 1) this abuse went on from when he was 14-17. That’s not a one time oops I had no idea. That’s a pattern.
      2) One has to be repentant. John Duggar was cracking incest jokes 3 years afterwards. if someone felt truly guilty and remorseful about something they’d done…they probably wouldn’t be making jokes about “being from Arkansas” on TV. I would like to think that a man who is truly remorseful of his “stupid teenage mistakes” would never bring attention to that chapter of his life ever again, especially through jokes. That is the last thing he’d want because he’s ashamed.
      3) You have daughters. Saying over and over again it was a teenage mistake tells them they are worthless. But we all know you thought that anyway.

  6. Cannibell says:

    So: He was white and “Christian,” so that made it okay. Also, it only happened once.

    This is just going to keep getting more awful. And TLC’s solution to save its brand isn’t much better. Those poor girls – if nothing else comes from this, maybe they’ll get some exposure to a world beyond kitchens and babies.

  7. Izzy says:

    So, Michelle and Jim-Boob are STILL focused on themselves and their praying. Not on their kids who were actually victimized.

    Sounds about right for them. Tools.

    • Flora Kitty says:

      If they focused on their daughters, it would be to tell them that they defrauded their brother.

      • The Other Katherine says:

        Flora Kitty, EXACTLY. The sight of Jim Bob’s face literally makes me feel physically sick at this point.

  8. ncboudicca says:

    “focused on each other” = don’t give a cr@p about their children

  9. Kiddo says:

    I am re-posting what I wrote on the old article, this morning. I hope this is okay, Kaiser:

    There is an article up on Salon today which lists the other networks owned by TLC, such as the Oprah Winfrey Network, Investigation Discovery and the Discovery Channel (and others). The question the author of the article poses is will TLC kill the cash cow Duggar show if it only makes people who don’t watch it happy, but it otherwise brings in a lot of cash from those who it does make happy. I like Investigation Discovery, but….

    Here’s my idea for a better plan of boycott, STOP watching the other networks that they own. Put pressure on the advertisers of all of TLC’s offshoots. Put pressure on the Oprah Winfrey Network. Considering that Oprah’s producers knew about these circumstances, reported them, but have remained RIDICULOUSLY quiet about this subject since it has blown wide open, seems to imply that they want to distance themselves to not risk their own profit. It’s not their fault, of course, but Oprah has consistently been a very prominent voice for political positions over the years and her silence on the subject is now deafening when it comes to a situation that hits very close to home economically.

    • Size Does Matter says:

      I’m in. I don’t know how else to vote other than with my remote and my $$$. What advertisers are left for us to boycott?

      • Kiddo says:

        I’m not sure, maybe it is listed on the different networks? I like some of the shows on ID. I’ll be skipping them and OWN.

    • neelyo says:

      I came here to say the same thing. Boycott Discovery Communications. Put the pressure on them. They’re the parent company of TLC. I enjoy Investigative Discovery too, but I’m not watching it again until the Duggars are gone.

      • Kiddo says:

        +1

      • Shambles says:

        Slightly OT, but I was absolutely addicted to ID for the longest time. The crime stories were intriguing, and the cheesiness of some of the reenactments and commentary gave it a “so bad it’s good” factor. I was really sad when I learned that the cable company my apartment complex uses doesn’t carry the channel. But it’s a moot point, now that this has all come to light.

      • Size Does Matter says:

        I like ID, too. Shame they didn’t INVESTIGATE this family before putting them on TV. (As if they didn’t know.)

      • mariana trench says:

        Discovery Communications has the following channels under its belt: Discovery Channel, TLC, Animal Planet, Investigation Discovery, OWN, Science, Discovery Family, Am Heroes Channel, Velocity, Destination America, Discovery Life, Discovery en Espanol, Discovery Familia and Discovery Digital Networks.

        Another example of the evils of media mergers.

    • Jesmari says:

      Kiddo it doesn’t matter unless you are a Nielsen family. If you are not one of these families, then nobody knows what you are watching. It won’t help or hurt this network. Ratings are measured through Nielsen box data. You are better off writing to the companies that still support the show.

    • Boston Green Eyes says:

      Unfortunately, I can’t boycott the channels as I don’t watch any of their crap anyway.

      The story just makes me angrier and angrier. I used be like the poster above who said that she was never really bothered by the Duggar Klan as she had a live-and-let-live attitude. But now I am so livid that I hope something can be done to 1) Punish these people and 2) to make sure they go away and NEVER come back.

    • Kitten says:

      No more Investigation Discovery?? 🙁

      R.I.P. Prison Wives, Behind Mansion Walls, Disappeared, Deadly Women, I (Almost) Got Away With It, Nightmare Next Door, and Who The (Bleep) Did I marry?

      • Kiddo says:

        Someone, maybe a writer here, should ask OWN if they think this show, or any offshoot thereof belongs on the air. Breaking up the focus of these combined networks keeps these people safe from harm by other networks’ decisions, and the CEOs are the ones who likely benefit by mitigating loss through different markets of interest. It’s like owning 500 different real estate developments which all have a different LLC or incorporation, but the same owner gains in one location with no liability attached to other holdings.

      • Shambles says:

        You forgot Wives With Knives and Southern Fried Homicide, Kitten 😉

    • mo says:

      Will stop watching these networks. Thanks for providing a list. I also will never read People magazine again.

    • The Original G says:

      Oprah REPORTED it to the authorities. It’s the so-called authorities that have much to answer for in the protection of these children. The waging of a personal tabloid warm while satisfying in some ways doesn’t really address the issues here.

      BTW, WHEN will the media call Jim-Bob and his ilk out for their unrepentant subjugation of women and children?

      • Kiddo says:

        I know. But isn’t this something she should speak up on, considering her own history and how prominent a case she makes for other causes.

        “Oprah calls child molestation the great spirit-killer.”

      • The Original G says:

        I understand the emotion here. I think that Oprah speaking on this specific issue for which there appears to be no established facts/ or destroyed evidence would turn into mud slinging. It appears that her team are the only ones who took any actions here. I think she has advocated very prominently for victims of child molestation.

        Again. Where is the LAW, the investigation, the proof, the treatment or punishment? Why are local authorities colluding with Jim-Bob?

      • Kiddo says:

        I didn’t mean to imply that she needed to answer to it. This is not her fault, her network took action, but her network is also part of the larger corporation and profit being made by the Duggar show. Based on all of the coverage, including the fact that producers reported this, I’m surprised no one asked her opinion.

    • jane16 says:

      Great idea, Kiddo. I will send emails to all the channels and their sponsors.

      • Zoenerd says:

        im so sickened by the Duggars that I’m commenting for the first time. I’m a longtime lurker. Does anyone know who all the sponsors are? I want to send comments to them and boycott products/stores/ anyone that advertises on this show. Ive never watched the show so I have no idea who sponsors are. Thanks

    • jane16 says:

      I am going to post whatever contact info I can find at the bottom of the thread.

  10. LadyMTL says:

    I don’t care if the Duggars are Christian – or if they were Muslim or Jewish or Buddhist or atheists – their attitude has been disgusting. It’s all about them, all about Josh, and nothing about the young girls he molested. Hell, even the convicted sex-offender cop is making more sense than this bunch.

    If TLC doesn’t cancel the show I have a feeling they will be (figuratively) torn to pieces.

    • Christin says:

      ITA. They (IMO) continue to hide behind religious beliefs, and some are excusing them because they are playing the religious/forgiveness card (which is to make it all disappear and keep bringing in the money).

      I genuinely hope that most people (including those in conservative towns like mine) see this for what it is. If he and his parents are religious or not, rich or poor, whatever — wrong is wrong. They have failed on so many levels, and NONE of the family should have a show (because it keeps the platform going and this family needs to privately sort out their many messes).

  11. Pinky says:

    Joseph Hutchens wasn’t concerned with what Josh had done, as he was too busy Duggaring kids himself. Allegedly.

    But seriously, wipe them all from consciousness. Take everyone off the air, get the girls counseling (on TLC’s dime), and then either take away TLC’s broadcasting privileges or fire all the top execs, as those liars are now trying to claim they felt betrayed that Jim Bob never told them Josh had “confessed” to the incident. Very interesting wording, TLC, which just proves that you knew about it and purposefully and with conviction decided to keep yourselves in the dark, like a defense lawyer: “Don’t tell me what actually happened as I cannot support perjury. But if I don’t know what went down, I can defend you.” They knew, but they thought they could keep it under wraps as they didn’t know there was proof out there. TLC is just as complicit in covering up the incestuous molestation. Willful, gross, negligent, criminal ignorance.

    • BlueNailsBetty says:

      “Duggaring kids”! Oh how that bastardization of their name made me laugh. Freaking scumbags……

    • Who ARE these people? says:

      I hope someone finds a way to take them to court.

  12. Lucy2 says:

    It’s pretty sad when the guy in jail for 50+ years for child pornography is the only one expressing regret for the victims. Not the perpetrator, not their parents.
    I’m glad all of these advertisers are dropping out, but I’m actually a little disgusted they advertised on the show to begin with. Same goes for People mag- they’ve been promoting this family for years.

    • PennyLane says:

      “If I had to do it over again, I would have told him immediately I am going to call the hotline and contacted the trooper that worked those cases and have a full report made. I thought I could handle it myself. I have lost a lot of sleep over it. I am a Christian myself and I worry that something else may have happened. I would be responsible for it, in my opinion, by not reporting it. The young girl should have been my first priority.”

      You know things have gone seriously wrong in a situation when the person who’s in prison for 56 years for child p0rn is the voice of sanity and compassion.

      • Christin says:

        At least he seems to realize the true impact. He allowed himself to be (allegedly) misled by a ‘friend’. I would have immediately stepped aside and let another LEO investigate.

      • Liberty says:

        Right? a convicted pedophile speaking more sanely than the family, and getting the horror of all this — while the money-sucking zombies at TLC just try to find new ways to tie a ribbon on a pig.

      • bcgirl says:

        oh please, he just knows the right thing to say.
        His actions and life choices reveal his true character.

      • PoppyAdair says:

        I get what you are saying bcgirl, but I also think it is entirely possible that Trooper Hutchens does feel deep regret that he was not told that several girls were molested multiple times and instead led to believe Josh’s parents had busted him in a one-off incident of inappropriate conduct. He may genuinely rue not notifying DHS or passing the case to someone else for further investigation. Yes, he may be serving time for child porn and his credibility is obviously suspect. But I have seen people convicted of child porn offenses try to minimize the gravity of their conduct by arguing “I only looked at/shared pictures. I didn’t take them. I didn’t touch any kids. I never victimized the kids whose photos/videos I saw.” In fact, some of these same offenders can be very adamant that while they might be attracted to images of children, they have no interest in actually doing anything sexual with children. It is weird that they seem to recognize a hierarchy of child sex offenses, but it happens.

        Hutchens may truly be as appalled as we all are that the Duggars covered up for their son at the expense of their daughters and that he inadvertently allowed the molestation to continue by just doling out a stern lecture. He may only be saying what he thinks people want to hear, but at least he seems more concerned about Josh’s victims and what they suffered rather than Josh, Jim Bob, and Michelle.

  13. Mirandaaah says:

    And look at what their “faith” has gotten them.

  14. Jem says:

    They didn’t take it seriously, focused on cover-up and preserving thier brand more than the Right Thing To Do. And now they are paying for it. This is not going to ‘go away’ with a bunch of talk about God, faith, etc. The public isn’t buying what they are shilling and they sound like inbred idiots talking about the ‘counseling’ and thier spiritual ‘cure’.

    He’s a pedophile, and his first victims were thier own daughters. They are despicable, awful parents

    • Froggy says:

      I wonder if the daughter who was molested is the oldest one who is not married. I think I read that she is like a ‘spinster’ in their world bc she is in her mid-20s with no husband.
      There will be a special place in hell for these ‘Christians’ if they don’t get counseling for their daughters.

      • Boston Green Eyes says:

        You are probably right, Froggy. Because these vile people blame the victim and therefore she is “unclean” and unworthy of a “good Christian man.”

      • Hollz says:

        Except he molested FOUR of his sisters, according to the police reports. Names are blocked out, but addresses are not. 4 of them lived in the same location, the 5th elsewhere.

        I always wonder about Jana, and if perhaps she’s gay? She made a deal with her parents to stay in the closet if they didn’t force her to marry and have children?

  15. Talie says:

    Jessa and Jill are rumored to be his victims. No, sorry ma’am… I want to see those girls get long overdue psychotherapy before I see them trying to sell their cultish ways to me on spinoffs.

    • mom2two says:

      Same here. I really think TLC should just drop anything Duggar related at this point.

    • Jem says:

      IKR??!! ‘Lets harness the victims to keep the family brand going’

      Unbelievable

    • Hollz says:

      Jessa, Jill, Jinger and Joy Anna. 4 of his sisters. The most popular theory I’ve heard is that Jana was to close in age to him. Creep.

      • DTX says:

        I have also heard this! Something about how she was the only one that remained “untouched” or something nauseating like that. I feel like there may be some legit fuel in the gay rumors about her, I’m thinking maybe he made an attempt & she knocked the sh*t out of him. Gosh who knows, really? I may just be fantasizing that some female out there knocked the sh*t out of him! I would gladly volunteer

      • daphne says:

        i always thought jessa was too hypersexualized as a self proclaimed virgin.. and the alleged first kiss with her husband pic posted on instagram? yuck

  16. evie says:

    No one thinking of the victim is pretty typical, unfortunately. I have an uncle who is 10 years older than me and when I was around 4 or 5, he made me touch him “down there”, even now I have a hard time typing it. When I was in my 20’s I decided I didn’t want to be around him at family functions anymore, he creeped me out, and I finally told my parents what happened. While my dad supported me 100% and called my uncle up and raised holy hell (it was his brother), my mother was all bent out of shape about me bringing it up after all this time. It was going to ruin the holidays, etc. My grandparents (uncle’s parents) said directly to me, “Oh thank god, we thought he was gay.” Never once did ANYONE ask me how it hurt me to experience that and to this day it is a sore subject for all of them. My grandparents had even accused me of lying about it at one point. My uncle threatened to sue me.

    It’s so much easier for a victim to stay quiet than to rain a shitstorm like that down on yourself.

    • Kiddo says:

      I believe you.

    • mom2two says:

      I am so sorry Evie. I am glad your father supported you but I wish your mother and grandparents did too. ((hugs))

    • Shambles says:

      So sorry for your pain, Evie. Feel free to talk about how much it hurt you until you’re blue in the face, because we’re all here to listen. Wishing you peace and healing.

    • INeedANap says:

      I am so sorry that happened to you. The one who ruined the holidays and caused family strain was your uncle, not you. I hope your days have gotten increasingly better.

    • Damn says:

      I see more women hiding abuse and rape of their children by close family friends. Since this Duggar horror came out it’s mostly women defending them and it’s unbelievable.

    • Red32 says:

      “Oh thank God, we thought he was gay”?!?!? Whaaaaaaaa?!??

      I still cannot process this way of thinking where being gay is so horrible but forcibly hurting a child is “forgivable”. I couldn’t care less if my sons grow up to be gay, straight, whatever, but I would cry myself to sleep every night until death if one of them ever did what Josh or your uncle did.

      • Shambles says:

        + 1000. Consenting relationships between two loving adults that happen to be the same sex are nasty and shameful, but touching children is ok. What?! WHAT?!

      • evie says:

        @Red32, agreed. Even in 1994, when I told my family about this, I found that reaction pretty shocking. I’m a parent now and I would hurt anyone who did something to either of my boys.

    • Jayna says:

      “Oh, thank god. We thought he was gay.” Mind-boggling. I hope your father is still supportive even if other family isn’t. Stuff like this makes you feel victimized all over again, but this time by the people who should feel protective of you.

    • evie says:

      Thanks so much, y’all. I’m in my 40’s now so, it has been a long time since all of this went down but it is a thing that will never really go away. My experience, which is minor compared to the systematic abuse that so many people go through, taught me a lot about my family and who they really are. People’s true nature shows when the chips are down. I was really close with my mom at the time so her reaction was the one that really cut me to the core. She was the one I believed would be outraged, and she was, but not for the reason I expected.

    • The other paige says:

      So sorry for your pain-stay strong!

    • *support* says:

      What an atrocious response your grandparents gave!

      I am so sorry that happened to you! And I do support you and your brave decision to share your horrible experience here.

      This is the problem with sexual crimes, the victims don’t “get over it”. It leaves so many scars for such a long time.

    • Esmom says:

      Oh my goodness, how awful. I am so sorry. Not just for the abuse but for your family letting you down when you needed their support most. Having your well-being disregarded in that way had to have been devastating. Wishing you continued strength and healing.

    • Lara K says:

      I believe you too.

      It always amazes me when people side with the perpetrator to avoid family upheaval. Newsflash – the heaval has upped! Take care of your kids 365 days a year and screw `holidays`!

    • Alexis says:

      That is awful that that happened to you, and reading the response from your mother and grandparents made me physically ill. You have so much strength to deal with being victimized in that way by someone who was supposed to be a trustworthy protector, and it sucks that your mother isn’t supportive as you expected her to be given what you thought your relationship was with her. Sending good vibes your way.

    • erin says:

      That is so sad. As a child, the older brother of a playmate would corner all the neighborhood girls in his room, for “exposure time.” This was in the 50’s. No one ever told on him. I’ve wondered if his little sister was exposed to this. The victims always feel the shame and so often it’s kept a secret their whole lives. Of course it leaves scars that can affect how you feel about men, your whole life. The Dugger thing that really upsets me is that horrible cult religion they follow and how it makes women second class citizens. I wish Jana would put on a pair of jeans and a t shirt, and head for the hills!

    • bondbabe says:

      I agree with you. I was 12 when I awoke to my visiting 14-year old male cousin touching me (exactly like Josh Duggar–this just gives me shudder-skeeves). His 10-year old sister was sleeping in my room. I jumped out of bed and asked, “What are you doing?” His reply was, “I was just checking on [sister].” I told him to get out of my room.

      I didn’t say anything to my parents but I did tell my best friend at the time. A few months later, my best friend went with me to visit at my grandmother’s house. While she and slept on the floor of different aunt’s room (who was 19 at the time), my best friend awoke to my male cousin trying to pull her underwear down!! She kicked at him and he left the room, and she told me about it in the morning.

      I finally told my mother the whole story when I was 20. When my mother asked why I hadn’t told her at the time it happened (which would have been in 1975), I said to her, “I didn’t think you would believe me.” And frankly, even if I HAD told her, I don’t think anything would have been done; I doubt my mother would’ve said anything to her sister (cousin’s mom). I just learned to deal with it–I had to.

      I will always wonder though if my male cousin tried anything on his younger sister–she eventually married a much older, VERY-controlling, abusive man (she eventually got away from him–thank goodness). Had I said something at the time it happened, would her life turned out different? So I, too, carry some guilt about keeping the “secret.”

    • Asiyah says:

      I’m sorry Evie…

    • feebee says:

      Sorry to hear about your experience. Your mother thought it was going to ruin the holidays? Yeah I guess she didn’t realize the holidays (or any ‘uncle’ time) for you were permanently ruined. Your dad went to bat for you in the way men usually do. It’s not right/wrong, it’s just the way it happens. At least he believed you.

      You had the courage to speak up. Despite not being supported and grandparents accusing you of lying, the word was out there. I hope you’ve healed as best one can.

  17. GracePM says:

    And when did People know about this?!

  18. Hautie says:

    “Do you believe that Jim-Bob and Michelle are not concerned about the fate of their reality show?….”
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

    After all these years… and all that income… I suspect ole’ Jim Bob is not too happy. To be losing that source of cash. He is the ultimate thrifty spender. So suddenly having a pile of easy cash… stop flowing into the bank account. Would just about kill him.

    But I will say this… I bet they are the only reality show family, that probably has 90 percent of their income. That they earned from the show. In the bank. Or at least buried in Mason jars, out back behind the barn. 🙂

    • DTX says:

      Lol. I’m digging the mason jars theory because I truly find them to be huge backwoods-bred ignoramuses!

  19. Jem says:

    At this point, I can’t look at them anymore… And that’s when I noticed its Angelina’s 40th birthday (splashed across the top of the cover)

    Happy Bday Angie!!

    • Lucky Charm says:

      Shiloh’s birthday was yesterday, Angelina’s is June 4th. I can’t believe Shiloh is nine years old already!

  20. Barrett says:

    I have seen in families and especially large families bc it ups the odds there is usually a bad seed, black sheep, troubled kid. Mentally ill or a drug user or in this case pedophile. I think this has been handled poorly but this must be very painful for a family. I feel sorry for the victims, the bad seed needs accountability, and I feel for everyone involved. I can’t judge. This must be painful and humiliating to such a deep level.

    • Size Does Matter says:

      This was their OLDEST SON! The golden child who had more of their attention than all of the others combined! And they couldn’t manage to keep him off his sisters! Bah, f-ed up religious fanatics!!! It is their way of life that created this situation! There is a GD manual for how to deal with it!

      Maybe I had too much caffeine this morning but I can’t take it any more. This is a mockery of Christianity and family. I remember thinking at one point when I watched the show years ago how amazing it was that the kids were all so sweet and well behaved without mom being a screaming shrew (like I feel sometimes with my kids). SHE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A SCREAMING SHREW INSTEAD!

      • Hannah says:

        Ah, you’re right. I was going to say maybe it’s because they have to spread their attention over so many kids and spend energy having so many but he is their oldest, he should be the least f’ed up. There is no excuse, clearly it’s because of their teachings. And I don’t mean Christianity, these are not normal christians, they’re a cult.

      • Size Does Matter says:

        You’d expect the bad apple to be buried in the middle of the barrel, right? Not the first one out of the f-ing chute.

      • Honeybee Blues says:

        Or perhaps it’s the other way around. The reason the oldest is effed up is BECAUSE he was the only one truly raised by those two. Perhaps, through the absentee parenting of the younger ones, they were spared a lot of the intense rhetoric, and are therefore less effed up (no one is emotionally/mentally in the clear in this cult).

  21. grabbyhands says:

    Everyone involved in this is horrible and it makes me angry that TLC is still trying to capitalize off this by floating a spin off show. Jessa and Jill and their husbands are just as bad as their parents, frankly, and will use their platform to continue to espouse the same hateful cult rhetoric that their parents do on their show now.

    • DTX says:

      I don’t think Jessa & Jill are just as bad. I feel sorry for them because it’s a HUGE probability that they were victims themselves. I imagine that they’d rather hide & weep privately over the humiliation they must feel but instead they must put on a big smile & pretend that they are happy christian girls who support their brother & have forgiven his “mistakes” in order to keep peace in the family by bringing in more $$$. I wish their husbands had balls enough to put their foot down & pull their wives away and support and protect them from all of this circus. My husband (at worst) would have probably assaulted the brother and/or father by now and at very minimum, filed restraining orders against them.

  22. Damn says:

    This is how these sick perverts deal with sexual abuse in their cult. Read and weep for humanity. Nothing but victim blaming. It’s an ad for abuse.

    http://www.pajiba.com/images/2015/Counseling_Sexual_Abuse.jpeg

    They treat abused people like they are inhuman, blow-up dolls.

    • She-ra says:

      Damn, that link is so disgusting, I can’t even finish it. Why did God let this happen? Why did YOU let this happen!

    • Angel L says:

      That whole “counseling for sexual abuse” page is just disgusting.
      #8 just kills me though “If you had to choose…No physical abuse or Mighty in spirit – What would you choose?”
      WTF!!! How is that even a question? I am certain there are other ways of being “mighty in spirit” than getting abused. So basically if you complain about being abused you are rejecting God’s way of making you a better person? So messed up.

      I had a person tell me that only God could judge Josh Duggar and we shouldn’t judge him that God had forgiven him and that people should just let it go – God did. I told her it seemed to me that God hadn’t forgiven him and was judging him by letting this whole mess come to light. That maybe he found him guilty and was trying to help his victims. That shut her the hell up.

      • Wren33 says:

        I love that reply. I really don’t understand the “We can do anything we want and Jesus will forgive us if we ask” mentality. On the one hand, anyone who slightly differs from their interpretation of the Bible is going to Hell. On the other hand, they can molest young kids, have affairs, embezzle money, as long as they say a 30-second prayer for forgiveness.

  23. mememe says:

    “I’m a Christian too” says the guy in prison for kiddie p0rn. Why do they always drag the Lord into their mess????

    • Red32 says:

      Jesus needs to find himself a good lawyer, because his name gets dragged into the most bizarre lunacy.

    • anniefannie says:

      AMEN!
      It’s been my observation that when people find its necessary to announce “I’m a Christain” it’s usually used as a distraction from an issue or problem.

    • Mich says:

      Amen.

  24. swack says:

    While the Duggars are despicable, the state trooper also has a part in this (as well as anyone else who knew about this). Of course the state trooper didn’t think it was a big deal – he is of the same mindset as Josh Duggar and the rest of them. This is disgusting. IF anyone had touched my children I would have been in prison for murder.

    • Jesmari says:

      So you would kill your other child? Not me. I would separate them and get them intensive therapy. Outpatient for the victim and probably inpatient for the perpetrator. An intensive program can be very effective on minors with these sick tendencies. Also 9 times out 10 the perp was previously molested and needs therapy for that as well. I would never let them live together again though. I would have the perp live with my parents and visit every day. I love all my kids unconditionally, but protecting the victim would be priority.

  25. genevieve says:

    That’s awesome that some advertisers have withdrawn from the Duggar show. However, I’d like to see a list of advertisers that give money to TLC shows generally, because if they’re going to support that wretched network that seems to want to hang on to the family that supported a molester, I’d prefer they don’t do that with any of my money.

  26. LAK says:

    Typical. Concentrate on yourselves. Not your 5 daughters and the rest of the family.

  27. Debbie says:

    I think it’s time the FBI really looks into this church of theirs. I mean everyone who has spoken out has basically said well you know it’s hard not to molest little girls, they are there and all and only the law stops people. Which is horrifying and thank god untrue, add to the fact no one has said anything about the VICTIMS, and the consistent treatment and emotional and mental abuse and degradation of women I think there is a real problem.

    Something tells me the “men” of this church sexually abuse little girls and women a lot. I think they really do view them as vessels and play things.

  28. Nicolette says:

    They need to stop referring to it as a ‘teenage mistake’. Teenagers make a lot of stupid mistakes, that’s a given part of growing up but touching your sisters is not one of them. Is there no accountability anymore? Can no one have the integrity of owning up to their actions? Must it always be labeled or excused away?

    • Lara K says:

      Yes!
      + 1000 to this!

      A teenage mistake is handing your virginity to the football captain after he also banged your best friend.

      A teenage mistake is having a party while your parents are away and forgetting to clean up the barf from their bathroom.

      This is not a mistake, but a crime.

  29. Lucretia says:

    The whole revolting situation is about *male power and control* as much as it’s about sex in any way. It’s not a surprise that it was the oldest son who victimized his sisters — he was an adolescent being groomed to take his place in this “quiverfull” cult of male domination. In the same way that rape is a violent act, these were acts of control over those girls. I’m not suggesting that his father or their church put him up to the actual abuse — clearly, he was disturbed and acted in an inexcusable way. But isn’t it interesting that there has been no concern, contrition, care for the victims? Their own daughters!? Women are to submit. Sex is a tool of domination and control with these people — Michelle’s own righteous admission that she cannot say “no, not tonight” to her husband? The games of withholding and waiting (or not)? What concerns me is I doubt the messages about male domination — and confusion over what to do with that — stopped with the first son. I look at that family picture, and shudder.

    • Size Does Matter says:

      Agree a million times over. And the fact that the homeschool curriculum has a manual for how to deal with this? It never even CROSSED MY MIND that I would need to tell my son to keep his hands off his sister, but of course I told them about inappropriate touching, etc and to tell me if anyone ever said or did anything to make them uncomfortable. But in Quiverful families it must be endemic. What better way to create a bunch of future Stepford wives than to destroy their spirits as children?

  30. Jayna says:

    They are probably up in the bedroom banging away trying to get pregnant with baby number 20 thinking a pregnant Michelle will solve it all for keeping their show, all the while poor Jana is downstairs taking care of all the kids.

  31. ojulia123 says:

    They’re devastated over the “leak”….but not a word about being devastated by the actions of their son and the long term psychological damage done to the victims. Nice.

  32. Jackson says:

    I would bet anything that TLC is going to give the married girls their own show. Ugh. Please TLC, just get rid of anything and everything Duggar.

  33. Greenieweenie says:

    Really don’t understand someone who was
    caught twice with copious amounts of kiddie porn losing sleep over what he failed to prevent Josh from doing. It’s like a paradox for the ages.

    • jwoolman says:

      Considering he’s in prison for the rest of his life, he might feel he has nothing to lose by being truthful. He might really regret his inaction also. He apparently never directly molested children himself. He may or may not realize now that being part of the market for child porn really did make him responsible for child molestation, since those were real children in the pictures. But he doesn’t think of himself as a molester, says he never had the urge to molest children himself, and also it’s different when you know the people involved (they’re not anonymous strangers). People are quite often full of contradictions, but it actually makes sense.

      Likewise he isn’t actually being a hypocrite when he mentions that he’s a Christian. I think he was a member of their church, which is relevant. I don’t know of any Christian denomination that says you can’t be a Christian and a sinner (including big time sinner) simultaneously. Ditto for other religions (Buddhists are not immune either…). A religious framework of any sort doesn’t make you a perfect person, it just gives you a goal to strive for. People violate their own frameworks all the time, and that includes people who aren’t associated with a formal religion but have their own ethical framework that guides them.

  34. bettyrose says:

    I’ve never bothered buying a People magazine before and there wasn’t much chance of my doing so in the future, but this pretty much cemented by resolve not to do so.

    • Christin says:

      I won’t even pick it up to read in a waiting room after this. They hit a new low.

  35. Sugar says:

    I’m a mandated reporter. I could go to jail if I don’t report suspected child abuse. Surely that cop is a mandated reporter, in which case he broke the law.

  36. Jayna says:

    From TMZ.

    “Hulu has pulled the plug on “19 Kids and Counting.”
    The popular streaming site was bombarded with messages from users who wanted the show 86’d in the wake of the Josh Duggar molestation scandal.
    Hulu responded quickly, saying, “The show page has already been removed, and is no longer hosted on Hulu.”
    This puts even more pressure on TLC to make a move. As we reported, we’re told the network is leaning toward cancellation, but at this point, they may not have a choice. Advertisers are fleeing in droves.”

  37. platypus says:

    Ugh, all of this makes me want to move to a different planet. I’m sure they will all have PLENTY of fans still, regardless of how they handle this. And they know it.

    Sadly, not giving a sh*t about the victims, or whether or not someone is a pedophile/child molester is pretty common. Someone in my extended family is a molestor (children, elderly, drunken women – you name it). Everyone knows what he’s done, yet they keep treating him like nothing is a matter. They might not leave their children alone with him (besides the woman who knew, then chose to birth his daughter), yet they flock to him like he’s a superstar (he’s very charismatic and “cool”). The point? When people are judging someones character, whether or not they are a child molestor is pretty far down the list…

  38. feebee says:

    Were Jill or Jessa among the sisters who received their brother’s ‘special attention’?

    As for the parents, I think it’s pretty clear they’ve always been focused on themselves/each other and their faith. I think that’s been part of the problem for the children.

    The actions of the son is bad enough… not absolving blame from him but look at the upbringing! But the actions of the father (not excluding Mom either) are totally reprehensible and criminal. If I thought there really was a hell I’d be happy that that was their soul’s final stop.

    • Jayna says:

      Yes. Not Jana, though. The four younger than her, Jessa, Jill, Jinger and Joy-Anna were. Back then the other girls weren’t born yet when this happened. And the report said four daughters of the Duggars, except the oldest daughter, so it has to be those four.

  39. Shitler says:

    This whole situation is Jim Bob and Michelle’s fault. Read up risk factors for incest

  40. kri says:

    I wouldn’t buy People magazine if my heat went out in the winter and I needed to make a fire to stay warm. As for this family, I shudder to think what really went on. I had my own experience as a kid with a (female) child molester. I can say for certain that I am still affected by it, even though I am in my early 40’s. TLC must cancel this show. If they don’ they are sending a message that this behavior is okay. This Quiverfull (sick name makes me get the heaves) thing is a cult and is a danger to women and children pure and simple. Any “belief system” that glorifies the male role and marginalizes and objectifies the female role is inherently dangerous. I want them all off the air.

  41. feebee says:

    Has anyone spoken to the other brothers? Just throwing that out there.

  42. Leslie says:

    Shouldn’t they be focusing on the 19 kids they have?

  43. holly hobby says:

    Re state trooper’s comments. One time is one time too many. That chinless wonder should have been reported to the authorities right away.

    Also, Jess Cagle, stop promoting this cult. I would think their beliefs run opposite to yours.

  44. DenG says:

    TLC could present a new show featuring the Duggars and some other large Christian families. It would be a competitive reality show entitled “Who Knows The Lord Best?” Whoever can document messages from the Lord and their righteous outcomes will win. It could include immunity and all kinds of intriguing challenges.

  45. dibba says:

    On their facebook page today they posted a photo of the the two oldest girls when they were 5-6. Lots of comments, so weird they would post that. Its gone now.

  46. Lisa says:

    Just pull the whole fucking empire down. I always had a sick feeling that something like this would come out about them, although I hoped it wouldn’t, for the sake of the victims. This probably isn’t the only skeleton in the closet.

  47. Rachie says:

    How do they know God has forgiven him? My guess is his trip to upstairs won’t be what they all think it will be.

  48. dibba says:

    They would justifiy and excuse anything using religion as do their fans. Is there anything they would condemn them for?

  49. Christy says:

    Disgusting if the network would have a “spinoff” show with the two girls. That is simply indirect support of the whole sick fiasco.

  50. Liliya Lee says:

    So they are focused on each other and their faith, but not their children?? WOW! Also they are “devastated this leaked”? they should be devastated that their son is a pervert and a molester, and devastated that he abused the girls!!

  51. Cinderella says:

    They won’t be “leaning on each other” for long. When Jim-Bob starts tallying how much money they stand to lose, he won’t be able to get it up with a crane.

  52. Egghead says:

    Okay so I despise these people and their child abusing, victim blaming ways. All the other commenters have said this for me, I’m sure much more eloquently than I could, so my comment focuses on this:
    OMG I NEVER REALIZED THAT JIM BOB AND MICHELLE LOOK EXACTLY ALIKE!!!! Like they look like brother and sister, imo they could even pass for twins. I’ve never really noticed it before, but it’s glaringly obvious, to me at least, on that People cover. They even have matching moles on their faces!!! WTF?!?!? Just something super creepy I noticed, was wondering if anyone else has ever noticed this as well lol.

  53. Jgb979 says:

    Well we know they aren’t focused on the well-being of the victims, that’s for sure.

  54. Joh says:

    Would anyone ever watch a show about Jenna and Jill without thinking of the molestation and how it has effected them..
    They were raised being told what happened to them is there own fault, how could their show ignore that?

  55. EN says:

    That is our culture today – Duggards and Kardashians. 50% of People articles are about them.
    Now, if somebody found something to get Kardashians off the news,….

    • jane16 says:

      I know, its sickening. The two creepy, opposite extreme ends of society, displaying their egos and their sickening “values” every day and having money thrown at them for every stupid thing they do. I hate reality tv.

  56. lowercaselois says:

    I have only watched this show a few times, which was probably too many times and have always thought there was a dark side to the Duggars.

    I have read,in the Child Abuse Review Journal, that research shows for boys 12 and over who molested siblings, classmates, or friends. It found that they are invariably born into families in which sexual abuse is already present in their families and maybe over several generations.

    Boys were unable to form healthy relationships as a result of neglectful and hostile parenting. Even before starting school, they were anxious, angry and detached; bed-wetting, nightmares, self-harm and eating problems were common.

    These boys started abusing after being sexually abused themselves. By the time they received specialist help they had all perpetrated serious abuse against several children.

    Maybe, there is a skeleton in Jim Bob’s closet.

    • jane16 says:

      Haha! They did a great job of showing these people up for the selfish hypocrites they really are. Thanks Jayna.

    • pinetree13 says:

      That was soooo good! Her Michelle impression is so good it’s scary.

  57. Veronica says:

    Their “faith” generally involves silencing the voices of women, so I’m sure it is a point of focus in covering up as much of scandal as they can.

  58. Christin says:

    On a previous post, I went a bit OTT about the parents allegedly making money through commercial real estate.

    Several years ago, I wondered if they were really as modest means as they portrayed themselves and did a little Web digging. I thought some articles might have been scrubbed, but they are still there. Just search his name and real estate.

    Supposedly, both JB & M being licensed in real estate*, and JB supposedly making big bucks through commercial investments. One site claims he made millions.

    * I find it interesting that M was allowed to work outside the home, as most families who are steeped in this type of belief system frown on the female working outside the home. But that’s a whole other can of worms.

    I have a feeling there will be much more to come — maybe with finances or taxes. Just a gut suspicion. Where people may have been hands-off until now, I think this deservedly harsh spotlight will uncover any other deceptions they’ve tried to pull through the years.

  59. finished says:

    This family is so many shades of weird. I can’t help thinking that their handling of the molestation, and the going to a cop who is a child pornographer to get guidance on the matter speaks volumes. They “got help” for Josh, but not his victims? In my opinion a 14 year old boy who molests his sister’s is likely a victim of sexual abuse himself. Not always, but it does happen. If my comments offend victims of abuse, please accept my apologies. I am merely stating my disbelief at how this was handled 12 years ago.

  60. Jayna says:

    Read this article about another nutcase and how DHS failed the children, who were rehomed (like pets) illegally by a state representative of Arkansas and his wife who adopted them, and sexual abuse occurred. Horrifying. These people make me sick. And he’s still a state representative.

    http://www.rawstory.com/2015/05/not-just-the-duggars-arkansas-dhs-keeps-giving-christian-conservatives-a-pass-on-child-abuse/

  61. jane16 says:

    Apparently emailing all of these asshole channels is not that easy, but I will post whatever contact info I can find. Please feel free to pass it on:

    TLC Phone Contact Numbers:
    New York Senior VP: 1-212-548-5555
    Atlanta VP: 1-404-364-5839
    Chicago VP: 1-312-946-0909
    Detroit VP: 1-248-764-4400

    Mailing Address (goes to Discovery, the parent company:
    Discovery Communications
    Attn: TLC Customer Service
    1 Discovery Place
    Silver Spring, MD 20910

    I could not find an email address for TLC on their website.

    Discovery Communications Phone #s:
    Senior VP NY: 1-212-548-5555
    VP Chicago: 1-312-946-0909
    VP Atlanta: 1-404-364-5839
    VP Detroit: 1-248-764-4400
    Senior VP Los Angeles: 1-310-551-1611

    Mailing Address:
    Discovery Communications, LLC
    1 Discovery Place
    Silver Spring, MD 20910

    To contact Discovery Communications by email, you have to go here:
    http://corporate.discovery.com/contact/viewer-relations/

    I will look for contact info for their other channels a little later.

    • jane16 says:

      I can’t find email addresses for the other channels owned by Discovery Communications. I am going to send Discovery Comm. and TLC a letter and email and tell them I won’t watch any of their channels if they keep the duggary creepfest going. It’s still listed on the TLC webpage as one of their shows. Here is a list of the channels:
      Discovery Channel
      TLC
      Animal Planet
      Investigation Discovery
      Oprah Winfrey Network
      Science
      Discovery Family
      American Heroes Channel
      Velocity
      Destination America
      Discovery Life
      Discovery en Espanol
      Discovery Familia
      Discovery Digital Networks

    • ataylor says:

      Would love to help and share some direct contact information for TLC/Discovery, but I don’t think I linked it right the first time (its a google sheets file) when I posted a few messages up. If anyone can help me figure out how to do it right, I’ll gladly repost a link.