People: The Duggars ‘truly felt people would understand’ about Josh’s crimes

duggar people

I’m genuinely surprised that People Magazine is still doing Duggar-family covers. My guess is that People Mag has already formed relationships with Duggar Inc. and they figure, “Why not just milk all of the exclusives that we can get out of this family?” Still, it feels like the Duggar story has sort of subsided in the national consciousness and it would have been great to see another Jennifer Aniston cover (with exclusive wedding photos, which I guess People does not have) or a Ben Affleck cover (with more exclusive details about how he totally did not bang the nanny, of course). CB says that People Mag was supposed to do a Kelly Rutherford cover this week, so this Duggar cover might be a last-minute editorial decision. So we get this cover, with Jessa and Jill Duggar, arguably the most sympathetic and popular people within the Duggar clan.

What seems like a simple follow-up on the Josh Duggar-molestation scandal is probably something more. TLC is going to air Breaking the Silence, a Duggar-centered documentary about child abuse, on August 30. The tabloids have claimed for weeks now – ever since 19 Kids & Counting was officially canceled – that the family will do ANYTHING to get back on TV. A source told Star a few weeks ago: “The family can’t afford to not have the show—it is their main source of income, and with a family of that size, without it they’re in enormous trouble…They know they have to at least pretend to be sorry about what happened, and now they want a spin-off where Jim Bob and Michelle would give advice to abuse victims—even though they’re in denial about their culpability in Josh’s crimes.” That’s the background you need for this People cover story:

Three months ago a scandal turned their world upside-down – and the Duggar family is still trying to figure out a way forward.

“They are still stunned that this is how it has all gone down,” a source who has worked closely with them tells PEOPLE in this week’s cover story. “I think they are still trying to absorb the fact that their life has so radically changed.”

In mid-May, oldest son Josh, 27, apologized for his earlier “wrongdoing:” A 2006 police report revealed that he molested five underage girls as a teen, and his sisters Jill, 24, and Jessa, 22, subsequently stepped forward as two of the victims. Since then, the sprawling reality TV family has struggled to move on following the cancellation of their hit TLC show, 19 Kids and Counting.

“The better part of the last decade has been doing their show, and to have that removed – and instead for there to be this intense scrutiny of their every move – just isn’t something you get used to overnight,” says the source.

When it comes to Josh’s “mistakes,” parents Michelle, 48, and Jim Bob, 50, “truly felt people would understand and eventually be okay with it,” adds the source.

Jessa, Jill, Jim Bob and Michelle have all publicly said they forgive Josh, now a married father of four, and “none of the Duggars think Josh is to blame” for the tremendous fallout, says the source. Instead, it is the officials who released the police records about Josh and his young victims who are the focus of the family’s anger. Rarely seen in public or on his family’s social media feeds since the scandal, Josh has had to distance himself in order to avoid drawing further negative attention upon them all, says the source.

“Jim Bob and Michelle love their son, and they love when they can spend time with his family. But every time they’re photographed with him, a story gets made out of it that rehashes the whole mess – and it’s painful for everyone.”

[From People]

You know what? I believe that Jim-Bob and Michelle “truly felt people would understand.” That’s the bubble they live in. That’s all they know, the kind of blatant hypocrisy of shaming sex between consenting adults whilst covering up the criminal acts committed against children. What I doubt is “none of the Duggars think Josh is to blame.” I think that Jessa and Jill specifically still have issues with Josh but they’ve been told so many times that they must forgive him or else they’re not good Christians.

Update: we’ll have full coverage of the Josh Duggar story tomorrow, I promise! Go here to read Gawker’s story.

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Photos courtesy of the Duggars’ Facebook, cover courtesy of People.

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175 Responses to “People: The Duggars ‘truly felt people would understand’ about Josh’s crimes”

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  1. kri says:

    Are they f***ing SERIOUS!!!!??? Disappear, you group of insane sub-humans.

    • Starrywonder says:

      What you said. I loathe People right now for keeping this people on their covers.

      • holly hobby says:

        Not only that Kelly Rutherford is on the cover too! So two wackos on the cover of People! @JessCagle should be fired.

      • Katydid20 says:

        I just can’t with People magazine anymore……..I used to love them but they’ve just gotten so bad recently.

      • Sabrine says:

        Maybe People won’t be so eager to feature the Duggars since it’s come out now that Josh had a subscription to Ashley Madison! So he can add cheater to his resume beside all his other lovely traits.

    • Shambles says:

      All we’re missing is a Cosby story, and the Trifecta of Deplorable Disgustingness will be complete.

      (But not really, please, no Cosby stories. Muh brain cannot handle)

    • doofus says:

      and it’s not the molester’s fault AT ALL…it’s that evil PD and the press that caused all this mess….’cause, see…it wasn’t the molestation that was the problem, it was that everybody found out about it.

      as for their finances, GET A F-ING JOB LIKE A REGULAR PERSON. you want 19 kids, get a job to support 19 kids. I have NO sympathy for any of them, except the victims.

      • GoodNamesAllTaken says:

        So agree. You were irresponsible and stupid enough to have 19 children you can’t afford, not to mention can’t take care of without using the oldest ones like soap. Now we’re supposed to feel sorry for you?

      • Esmom says:

        Preach.

        There was a family in my neighborhood with 18 kids and another one with 15. They somehow managed to keep their kids clothed, fed and to help them become productive citizens, all without the “help” of a reality TV show.

      • Swack says:

        Like the thief who isn’t sorry until he gets caught.

    • Alex says:

      I’m just…ugh no words.

    • GoodNamesAllTaken says:

      Of course they thought everyone would understand. Their son just succumbed to nature. Girls are the devil’s temptresses, even at four years of age (they can’t really help it, though they do it sort of on purpose) and boys are victims of their own helpless hormones (how else would a normal boy react when surrounded by the devil’s dirty temptresses?). It wasn’t his fault! It’s girls, see? And hormones. No biggie. We forgive the girls for almost ruining Josh’s life. Why can’t you?

      • BarkingMad says:

        But that’s just the thing, isn’t it, GoodNamesAllTaken? We, the people, DO, we REALLY DO understand only too well! That’s what they’re pissed off about; not that people don’t nderstand, but that we didn’t and don’t buy their pathetic excuses for their son’s sickening behaviour, and their own deplorable attempts at a cover up and hypocritical attitude towards the entire issue.

        Never fear, Duggars – we get it. Really, we do.

      • Otaku Fairy says:

        That’s exactly why I’m worried about this so-called ‘help for abuse victims show’ that they’re getting. I hope (but don’t believe) that it will not be filled with all kinds of victim-blaming rhetoric, ‘pray the abuse away’ nonsense, and an “our son/ other people only commit disgusting sex crimes because of the lack of chastity in our culture! This is why the world needs our blend of religion and politics” agenda. A reality show promoting those kinds of victim-blaming messages is the last thing this world needs. There are already more than enough people in this world who have either internalized or actively preach those kinds of messages. With the terrible way the Duggars handled the abuse situation in their own household, who the actual hell thought that giving them a show where they lecture on how to handle child sexual abuse was a good idea? Sad when getting ratings is more important than considering whether or not something would do harm.

      • FLORC says:

        GNAT
        you’re nailing it!
        Barking mad
        Your name is how i feel about this issue.

    • Megan says:

      Josh Duggar had two Ashley Madison accounts.

      • BarkingMad says:

        Of course he did. He’s a dead-set creep, in every kind of way.

      • holly says:

        http://www.mamamia.com.au/entertainment/josh-duggar-ashley-madison/

        Likes the following Christian activities,

        “Conventional Sex,” “Experimenting with Sex Toys,” “One-Night Stands,” “Open to Experimentation,” “Gentleness,” “Good With Your Hands,” “Sensual Massage,” “Extended Foreplay/Teasing,” “Bubble Bath for 2,” “Likes to Give Oral Sex,” “Likes to Receive Oral Sex,” “Someone I Can Teach,” “Someone Who Can Teach Me,” “Kissing,” “Cuddling & Hugging,” “Sharing Fantasies,” “Sex Talk.”

        Hahaha!

  2. Christin says:

    Their delusion has enormous depth.

    People has truly jumped the shark, compared to what it was years ago.

  3. Betti says:

    Seriously their son is a peado. What’s not to ‘understand’.

    Also if u’re struggling financially with all those kids then stop breeding like rabbits and get jobs.

    • Wren says:

      Yeah, I think we all “understood” a little too well. I also understand why they’re puzzled and hurt about the backlash; they live in a very different world than the rest of us do. It’s just sad.

      So how did they support their enormous family before the sweet, sweet TLC money? They can’t have been on the air that long. Didn’t they save any of it?

      • K says:

        They gave their kids broken shoes from Goodwill and squashed them all in a tiny 3 bedder, so Daddy could blow $250,000 on a vanity political run he had no hope in hell of winning.

        The irresponsibility is just extraordinary.

        And I look at that photo, and my heart goes out to that girl. Married to a paedophile, 4 kids by 26, and from a family that didn’t think she should know the facts of life until 2 weeks before her wedding day while happily marrying her off into the fundie Kardashians, in full knowledge of the score with Josh, because they saw fundie status and dollar signs.

        And they try to say she was fully informed before he proposed.

  4. Kiddo says:

    Emm-hmm.

  5. Snazzy says:

    vomit, vomit, vomit

  6. Josephine says:

    People magazine is pure trash. I hope it goes under.

  7. SypherMomma says:

    Grifters Gonna Grift

  8. QQ says:

    And Yet here we are, utterly Repulsed by everything about ya’lls Oily greedy, fake religious selves

  9. Tiffany27 says:

    His “wrongdoing”??????????????????????

    He molested children! Suffer you evil pieces of sh*t!

  10. Skyblue says:

    Seriously…most if not all couples with ginormous families support them by working real jobs!!!!! These people must go away!

    • K says:

      And plenty more of us choose not to have ginormous families so we can provide well, materially and emotionally, for the ones we already have.

  11. Abbott says:

    So they’re still testing out how people would react to the girls getting a spin off? It’s disgusting how they’re trying to spin the abuse in their favor by having the girls and now the parents offering ‘advice’ to other victims; that’s dangerous.

    • Hautie says:

      Wasn’t there a rumor that TLC had wanted to give these two girls their own show? And show them in their new marriages.

      But creepy Jim Bob said, NO! He was not interested in any show, that he did not have control of. And if the show was about the girls only… that the money earned from it would go to them. Not Jim Bob.

      The one thing I do not believe, is that they (Jim Bob and Michelle) are broke. At all. Not a chance. Unless Jim Bob is hitting up the casino’s over in Louisiana or Oklahoma… that family should have millions in the bank.

      I would be more inclined to believe, is that Jim Bob is p*ssed about losing out on the cash flow.

      But I still do not believe for one moment… that they are broke. Or close to it. This is the man that spent decades being frugal as hell.

      • Miss Melissa says:

        Pissed about the lost cash flow… and the TV pulpit on which to spread the word of his credo.

        It’s the access he misses most.

        They like the limelight. And they believe their own PR

    • holly hobby says:

      Why is TLC still connected to these psychos? TLC do yourself a favor and follow Subway’s lead. Cut those “God fearing, bible thumpers, pedos” off your payroll. I do not need advice from Dum Bob and Me-shelle on how to avoid incest and molestation (e.g., lock the girls in a room).

      • TotallyBiased says:

        Touching Little Children network makes me smh on a regular basis. Haven’t watched it for years now.

  12. Betha says:

    Well, that does it. I am never buying another People magazine again.

  13. Crumpet says:

    Forgiveness is for the victim’s peace of mind- it removes the power the perpetrator has over their lives. They are not asked to FORGET nor to allow it to ever happen again, or to look the other way if they think the perpetrator is harming someone else. This is the true meaning and power of forgiveness.

    In other words – they are doing it wrong.

    • BearcatLawyer says:

      As I have said before on other Duggar posts, these people do not understand the concept of atonement. I have seen NOTHING that suggests that either Josh or his parents have even remotely tried to atone for their deceptive and criminal acts. They seemingly care more about their image and the money they lost when this scandal finally came to light than the victims.

      Oh and they want a show counselling sex abuse victims? That’s rich. Are they planning on advising them to pray harder and forgive the perp and not wear demon jeans?

      Maybe Kneepads got it wrong. Maybe they want a show advising perps and their parents how to keep offenses covered up long enough to run out the clock on statutes of limitations, successfully blame the victims for asking for it, and lie to and about mean old law enforcement. That would make more sense!

    • GoodNamesAllTaken says:

      Exactly. Forgiveness does not mean pretend it never happened or pretend it wasn’t harmful.

  14. OSTONE says:

    Seriously? Have some dignity, Jim Bob and Michelle. You have failed your daughters countless times and have shown zero remorse. It feels like the only thing they are sorry about is that they lost the show ($$) and that now their image is tarnished as the perfect Christian family.

    • Anon says:

      Or show their arrogance while earning thousands per episode while lecturing the rest of America to live debt free because Jim Bob and Michelle can with 19 Kids and Counting. (never mind when they announced the 17th or 18th pregnancy, a producer said to JB on camera…”you sure do know how to keep a show going, Jim Bob.”)

  15. swack says:

    Does Josh not have daughters? I would really be watching him closely with them. And I’m sorry, they must really be out of it if they think that everyone would be okay with it.

    • Neah23 says:

      I believe he has 2 or 3 daughters.

    • Konspiracytheory says:

      Yes, two daughters. But in their minds, everything is fine – nothing to worry about…

      • Mon says:

        They cannot disappear quick enough! Horrible, horrible human beings. This world has progressed so much yet they still practically live in the dark ages.

    • Otaku Fairy says:

      Yeah, if there was ever a reason to get a divorce, discovering that your spouse and the father of your daughters was a serial-molester of little girls during his teen years is definitely one of them. If I was his wife, I would have filed for divorce and got my babies out of there as soon as this was confirmed. Normally I’m not the type who will get judgy over someone not leaving their spouse over other, less serious reasons, but this is different.

    • holly hobby says:

      Yes he has daughters. That pic up there has him holding one of his girls. Get that girl off that pervert’s lap!

  16. Boston Green Eyes says:

    Wow. The delusion of some people. To not even comprehend how evil and vile child molestation is just utterly dumbfounding. This just goes to show how insane and evil people become when the sequester themselves in their little crazy little religious bubbles.

  17. minx says:

    Nobody would sponsor that ridiculous premise of a show.
    They are in la la land.

  18. Talie says:

    I agree that Jessa and Jill clearly are not OK with their brother, but they have no choice living under their father’s reign.

  19. Daria Morgendorffer says:

    As disgusting as this is, I’m not surprised. These people live their lives as if they’re in a cult. Of course they think everyone would understand the twisted sh-t they’ve been brainwashed to think is normal behavior.

    It bothers me a lot that Jim Bob and Michelle actually had the audacity to say they expected people to “eventually be ok with it.” I already know they’re gross people, but this makes my stomach churn. When I was just a baby, my older sister was molested. My father revealed to me in recent years that years after it occurred, my sister ran inside from playing outside one day completely inconsolable because she thought she saw the man drive past our house. It chokes me up to even write that. It’s not OK that this family still doesn’t get it, even with the public’s backlash, just how serious it is for anyone to be sexually abused, whether the offender is their own son or a stranger.

    Would they write this off as “wrongdoing” if the offender wasn’t their son? What if it was a family friend? Would he or she have excuses made for them as well? It’s depressing to think that these women weren’t even given a chance to acknowledge the fact that what happened to them bothered them and they’ve been forced to suppress those emotions and make excuses for their abuser. Jim Bob and Michelle are unfit to be parents and if they weren’t “famous,” and protected by loons who share their twisted views I believe child services would intervene and keep a close eye on them since they still have young children in their household. I’m still holding onto hope that their underage children WILL be taken away from them. Hopefully the fact that they can’t afford to support their 19 children will speed up the process that their children will have the chance to get away from them quickly.

    Shame on People magazine for still acknowledging these people. This serves no positive purpose.

    • doofus says:

      that story about your sis makes me so sad. I hope she’s doing OK these days.

      and no, I don’t think they’d consider it wrong if it was someone other than their son. because, in their f-ed up cult that they call a “religion”, the woman is ALWAYS at fault for tempting the man.

      I don’t watch the show but a poster here related a scene from one of the shows where Dim Bulb sent his five year old daughter (5, freakin’ 5!!!) back to her room to change because the dress and leggings she was wearing were “inappropriate” and “too revealing”. for ANY man to see ANY 5 year-old, never mind his OWN DAUGHTER, as a sexual being is DISGUSTING. and it tells you all you need to know about their messed up views on sexuality.

      • Daria Morgendorffer says:

        Thanks for your kind words regarding my sister. She is good today, thankfully.

        This family is disgusting and what is so damn troubling is that by putting them on TV and giving them a platform, TLC helped every assh-le family just like them feel like they were gratified and their behavior is acceptable. I’m not a particularly religious person myself, I’m more spiritual, but I don’t knock others for their personal religious beliefs no matter what they are as long as it’s not harmful, cult-like, or forced upon others. I have a MAJOR problem with the legions of people like the Duggars living in the American bible bet who completely disregard what Christianity is actually supposed to be and turn into something gross. This is a bit off topic, but even if one goes by the word of the bible, Jesus Christ was not the hypocritical, hateful, judgmental person that his “followers” have become. Nothing about their behavior is “Christ-like” and it’s really terrible that people hide behind religion to be hateful and mentally unwell.

      • doofus says:

        well said. “What would Jesus do?”

        I’m pretty sure he wouldn’t enable a child molester and cover up his crimes. and I’m pretty sure he wouldn’t spit on the poor like so many “Christian” politicians do.

        seriously, these so-called “Christians” act in MOST UN-Christ-like manner.

    • Mayamae says:

      @Doofus, that sounds more like something Michelle would do. She’s the fanatic of the two, and she likes to one up and outdo others. For instance, she has a personal conviction never to show her knees. That doesn’t come from their religion.

      • doofus says:

        could be…never watched the show so I don’t know…just passing along what I’d heard, but you could absolutely be right…

        they’re both messed in the head…

  20. InvaderTak says:

    They are all loonie. I just can’t bring myself to mock them because it’s genuinely sad.

  21. meme says:

    These stupid Bible thumping hypocrites need to go out and get real jobs and disappear from the public eye.

  22. Tiffany says:

    My empathy and sympathy can only go so far. They are not doing this to spread the message about child abuse, they are doing it for the spotlight and money. *Wipes hand of them*

  23. Vampi says:

    They really just need to GO.AWAY.
    They are in a dangerous cult that ignored and then hid the molestation of children as young as 5, and NOW they want to council kids about sexual abuse and are being given a platform on national television to do so? Really?!!
    This country is SO messed up in SO many ways!
    Jusr NO Duggars! Go away!

  24. Lilacflowers says:

    Dear JB and squirrel, I understand that you birthed, raised, sheltered, and protected a sexual predator and provided him 18 potential victims right in your own home. I’m okay with you losing your livelihood for that. By the way, for me, responsible parenting means having a plan in place to support your children BEFORE bringing them into this world. Seems like you failed that test too. Time to get off your butt and get a real job, squirrel, and no, you should not be anywhere near abuse victims ever. You’ve done enough damage

  25. Priscila says:

    Do you know how to make them go away,stop breeding and get jobs? Don’t watch their show, don’t give them good ratings….campaign against viewing their show.

  26. lucy2 says:

    You know when their world should have been turned upside down? When they discovered their son had molested his sisters and other girls!!! Not when their f-ing TV show was canceled.

  27. Liberty says:

    So, let me get this straight:

    praying to QuiverJesus can completely “cure” a known admitted repeat-offending child molester in under a month, but cannot help any of these devout people come to grips with a cancelled tv show. Okie dokie.

    • BearcatLawyer says:

      I guess QuiverJesus also does not help them get seek honest, full-time employment that does not involve a TV camera being shoved in their faces.

      QuiverJesus FAIL!

  28. Sb says:

    Josh is so creepy holding his daughter. It looks like he’s presenting his next victim to the world w that sh!t eatin grin on his smug smarmy face.

  29. LAK says:

    Of course they are stunned the world operates differently from their bubble. Even if Josh isn’t charged in a criminal or civil court, the public’s judgement and refusal to reward them is punishment enough. Since they don’t have any self awareness or humility, let the judgement stand for a very long time.

  30. pleaseicu says:

    Their indoctrination is so deep they don’t even realize that for the rest of society child molestation is considered a vile crime that deserves criminal punishment not shaming of the victims into “forgiving” their abuser for the abuser’s peace of mind.

    They’re just completely oblivious to anyone reacting any other way than how they did to their form of addressing this with “Josh said sorry” and we locked the girls in their rooms so Josh can’t get to them.

  31. Syko says:

    How did they support the already-rather-sizeable family before they got the show? Why haven’t they saved/invested some of the money they’ve been grossly overpaid over the years for their platform to promote their delusional cult? I have zero sympathy for them. As for their appearance on a program about child molestation, that makes me gag. Even the least educated among us know they handled it wrong.

    Also, the picture of Josh with his smarmy badly-capped smile makes me sick.

    • lucy2 says:

      They always claimed to be self-supporting, it was one of the aspects their fans always crowed about, that they supported all those kids without help from anyone else. Guess that wasn’t so true. If anything it should be easier now than before, as several of the kids have grown up and moved out.

    • Christin says:

      They portray themselves as frugal, and there are claims online that they were BOTH ‘successful’ commercial real estate agents. Now they are allegedly crying poor, when several of the brood are out of the house?

      Families with a dozen or more kids managed to survive in generations past by working the land. They can grow a garden and get real jobs.

    • Shannon says:

      It should also be pointed out that Jim Bob and Michelle don’t have to pay for health insurance for their kids or themselves because Jim Bob served 1 term in the U.S. senate. And they marry off their children at a very young age, except for the oldest daughter Jana, who is apparently kept around because she’s the main nanny/servant, and she’s almost 26 so she’s going to have to get her own insurance policy. The upside of that is Arkansas accepted money from the ACA to expand the state’s Medicaid program. Given the sudden and complete lack of income Jana now receives from the show, especially residuals or royalties she would have gotten if TLC hadn’t completely yanked it from their programming lineup, she might actually qualify for it. Thanks Obama!

      • Lilacflowers says:

        Sorry, he never served in the US Senate. He did serve in the Arkansas house of representatives, so if the state provides insurance to its former legislators, he would be covered under that provision. He did run for the US Senate but lost in a primary to Tim Hutchison. He ran for a seat in the Arkansas state senate but lost that election too. But yes, Jana will probably be eligible for some form of expanded Medicaid and the younger children probably will be as well.

  32. IcyBlue says:

    I am long way over her in the UK and I have no idea who these people are or, I didnt until I read about their child sex abuse condoning way on the Daily Hate aka Daily Mail. And I understood it alright. I understood these people are ok with child sex abuse happening in their mist to their children by another of their children. I also understood they sought to protect the child who abused and not the children abused by that child. And probably blamed those child victims for not being pious enough, modest enough and God knows what else 2 pre teen girls and a 5 year old child can do to bring about their own sexual molestation, and the fact they were insisting on are making a distinction about touching a child under their clothing or over their clothing is as gross as they are. Someone should explain it to them, there is no time limit in which child abuse stops being gross and evil and will never be OK.

  33. frisbee says:

    I’m not over familiar with these people and only know them from CB but that gorgeous little girl that s*itbag is holding on his lap in the second picture down – I just want to go in and get her out of there NOW – along with this other kids, I fear for their safety among such people.

  34. Layla says:

    Jim boob and Josh both have non-detached ear lobes, which researchers are now associating with physical attributes of pedophiles.

    • notasugarhere says:

      Also known as attached earlobes. So does Gwyneth Paltrow. So do billions of other people. Polanski has detached.

      I get your point, you suspect JB is the same as his son. Earlobes aren’t going to prove it.

  35. Lisa says:

    That is twisted.

  36. Insomniac says:

    This is disgusting. What’s next, People – a puff piece about Subway Jared?

    • BearcatLawyer says:

      The Touching Little Children network somehow failed to put him under contract for a reality show. Someone’s losing his/her job there!

      /s

  37. JRenee says:

    When the show started, weren’t there already 14 or 15 kids? Surely with at least some of the kids out of the house, the financial burden has been altered. These people were well on their way to the large number of kids before the show. If they were on the air for 7 years, they should have saved some money. They had speaking engagements, book (s), travel paid for by TLC etc.
    I think they like the spotlight and the perks. The hell with ensuring that the kids are rooted and grounded and can learn from this horrible episode in their lives.
    Disgusting!

    • Shannon says:

      Josh is the oldest and obviously can’t get a real job any more so that actually adds him + his wife + 4 kids to the whole mix of children to support. The second oldest, Jana, is still living at home, but also does somewhere around 70-hour work weeks at the very least, consisting of childcare and cleaning. Her twin John-David apparently runs one of Jim Bob’s used car dealerships, so Jim Bob is ultimately paying his salary too. Then next oldest is Jill, who just had a baby and does not work outside of the home. She is married to Derick, who used to work at Walmart but quit so they could do some kind of month-long mission trip in South America to convert the dirty heathens from Catholicism to the appropriate flavor of hard-line Protestantism the Quiverfull require and he doesn’t currently work anywhere. Also Jim Bob gave them a nice house that he already owned, somehow the fact that Jim Bob and Michelle have this bizarre plan for all their children to live right next to them, causing them to buy up a bunch of houses in the area a long time ago, was never brought up on the show. I’m guessing because it’s nuts. Jessa is married to Ben, she does not work and is pregnant, Ben works for Jim Bob as their groundskeeper. Jinger is 21 and single so she still lives at home but is considered one of the few who still might GTFO. Joseph is 20, single, still at home/going to a fundamentalist Christian college I believe. Josiah is 18 and his courtship/betrothal with another chick from the Quiverfull movement fell apart, probably because he lost his TV show and his brother is an outed incestuous child molester. He’s also widely considered to be the black sheep of the family (yeah, it’s NOT Josh), it’s unclear why but he’s one of the more intelligent kids so his parents probably resent him for being smarter than them or something (they’re both total narcissists). The remaining 11 are still minors.

  38. Murphy says:

    Most popular? Yes-but only because they managed to get married and thus under Jim Bob’s thumb before the scandal broke.
    Most sympathetic? NO. Everyone in that family not named Jim Bob, Michelle or Josh is the most sympathetic.

  39. Louisa says:

    I have just finished reading “Escape” by Cathlyn Jessop who ran away from the FLDS cult with her 8 children. It was a shocking and disturbing read and makes me wonder what else is going on in this family. These “religious” cults are full of horrific abuse of women and children who are brainwashed to believe it is their fault.

  40. lunchcoma says:

    Ugh. I’m tired of these thirsty, greedy people and their entitled behavior. Having a TV show isn’t some god-given right. If people don’t want to watch you anymore, that means it’s time to get a job Jim Bob. Jana and Jinger and all those other adult children hanging around the house should look into it too. And maybe Jill and Jessa aren’t going to be able to afford to have a couple dozen children and will have to have three or four instead. Welcome to the real world.

  41. Jay says:

    I think the reason they are all surprised by the backlash is not just because of the quasi-religious bubble they live in where the girls are to blame and the molester can be forgiven, it is also because they were paid millions to appear on a popular tv show, and their views and ideas about such things were never questioned. They have always had these views, and were celebrated and paid well for having them. Their anti-gay views were endorsed by TLC removing openly gay staff members from the crew. TLC is complicit, they knew about this long ago, and this bs where they are allowed to continue to wring money out of this tragic situation should not be supported in any way by the viewing public. Whatever program TLC airs about this family, don’t watch it. That’s the only way they will learn. Stay away in droves. Send a message.

  42. Keaton says:

    I agree with you that Jessa and/or Jill still have issues with him. One thing that stood out for me in the interviews is that one of the girls started crying and said she didn’t fully trust Josh yet. I’m guessing it was Jill since she’s older. The point is, clearly this affected them. I don’t understand how Jim Bob and Michelle could read that and not feel horrible but I guess they are too deep in denial.

  43. DTX says:

    Completely off topic here but Josh’s wife looks so much like Amy Adams to me. I was watching Julie & Julia the other day and I kept seeing the poor Mrs. Duggar Jr.

  44. angela says:

    I’m finding it quite “comical” reading all the comments about how the Duggers are horrible people…blah blah blah….15 years ago their young teen son made some awful decisions, the family dealt with them and moved on….good for them….then theirs the Kardashians….the mom encourages her daughters to sell sex tapes, do topless runway shows and allows her underaged daughter to date and have sex with a much older adult…..no ones flipping out over this….but finds it cool and cosmopolitan…. You people have your priorities messed up

    • Syko says:

      Wrong. We all flip out over the Kardashians too. This particular article just happens to be about the Duggars.

    • Jezza says:

      A young teen son, even with their fucked up views of sex, would have known it was ABSOLUTELY WRONG. FFS, they only side hug when they date, so why would he think what he did would be OK?!?!

    • Tate says:

      Nothing comical about the Duggar situation. Josh molested his sisters. One of them being 5 years old. It is not normal teenage curiosity to have sexual attraction to a 5 year old.

      Maybe you should re-evaluate your priorities.

    • Joh says:

      It’s on Gawker that Josh has moved on…….to a paid Ashley Madison account. Father of the year!
      People sin, it is the sheer hypocrisy of the Duggars that is SO disturbing.
      It is their using and hiding behind God.

    • Neah23 says:

      Clearly Angela is a troll or is work for the duggers because their comment makes no sense and this person doesn’t visit this site.

    • Lilacflowers says:

      “the family dealt with them and moved on” Actually, no, the family didn’t deal with any of it. They protected him, fought the state of Arkansas to prevent him from suffering the consequences of his criminal activities, and continued to allow him access to potential victims without providing any actual treatment for him. And I’m rather critical of the Kardashians too, although none of them seems to have molested a five year old. Care to explain why you are defending a pedophile?

  45. Jezza says:

    My friends defended him. They said “I know it’s wrong, but boys are curious”. I lost it on them. fffffuuuuuccccckkkkkk! That family is so messed up on soooo many levels.

    • holly hobby says:

      If they are “curious,” then they should get a copy of Playboy or watch a show in an adult channel. That’s how normal boys satisfy their curiosity. They don’t dry hump their sisters or touch them down there!

      • Jezza says:

        I know, right? You can take matters into your own hands without violating your sisters. There is no way to defend what he did.

  46. iheartgossip says:

    This family has done more to hurt the Christian religion then Jim & Tammy Faye Baker could have dreamed up. GO AWAY you nasty bunch of flesh ‘n bones.

    • Bearcat Lawyer says:

      You know the world has gone crazy when Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker turned out to be relatively decent Christians, certainly better Christians than the self-righteous, grifting Duggars. Ok, they engaged in a lot of tax fraud and financial shenanigans and Jim might not have been 100% faithful, but Jim and Tammy Faye were very open to a variety of Christian beliefs and especially welcoming to the LGBTQ community – despite being members of the conservative Assemblies of God denomination. Jim apparently also has adopted five children with his second wife.

      And now it has come to light that Josh Duggar had a paid Ashley Madison account for TWO YEARS. He may also have had an OKCupid account while he lived in MD with his wife and kids.

      Stick a fork in the Duggars. They are DONE.

  47. (Original, not CDAN) says:

    People Magazine is really scraping the bottom of the barrel these days, lovingly showcasing pedophiles and child kidnappers. Next cover will no doubt be how Subway guy was just misunderstood.

  48. Cait says:

    And nooooooooooooooooooow we get the Ashley Madison story, too.

    Jesus H. Tebow on a crouton.

    These people.

    • Jezza says:

      Yup! Ashley Madison…so not surprised. I love the hypocracy!!!

      • Katydid20 says:

        Agreed! Not surprised in the least, it was almost like waiting for the second shoe to drop that we all knew was there somewhere……

    • lunchcoma says:

      It looks like he kept that account open right until the molestation story broke, too. And he spent almost $1,000 on it! Truly a poor, humble, rehabilitated man.

      • Birdix says:

        what does that mean? almost afraid to ask, but what does $ buy you on AM?

      • MizFAbulous says:

        According to the Gawker piece, you can purchase 1000 “credits” for $250, which also includes a money back guarantee that you will have an affair within 3 months. Ugh.

      • lunchcoma says:

        You have to pay to use the site, Birdix, so the money bought him the opportunity to contact women. And, yes, part of that $1,000 included $250 on a package that guaranteed he’d have an affair within three months or could get his money back.

      • Birdix says:

        wow. I wonder if this will finally prompt his long-suffering wife to leave…

    • Cee says:

      OMG I came here right after reading the Gawker piece.

      Any bets the Duggars will be more offended by Josh paying to cheat than by molesting 4 minors?

      • MissMo says:

        I came straight here after the Gawker story too! I bet they’ll deny, deny, deny, and play the victim…”Someone falsely set up an account in MY name!”.

      • Goats on the Roof says:

        Nothing would surprise me at this point, but I doubt it. Men get passes for everything in that cult. To them, the fault for everything lies with women because Eve. Or something.

      • Sparkly says:

        Something tells me they’d feel men are entitled/hardwired to cheat, but the interest in toys & oral would be appalling since the point is not babies.

      • Bearcat Lawyer says:

        But…but…his wife was pregnant all the time! He had NEEDS! Really he was just doing HER a favour by joining Ashley Madison (and possibly OKCupid) and having affairs.

        /s

    • Goats on the Roof says:

      But he’s reformed, y’all! A talking-to from a pedo cop and cult camp fixed him right up! I can’t wait to see how the family spins this one.

      • MissMo says:

        At least they were adults this time…?

        Ohhh, I feel awful for his wife, but the schadenfreude is so strong!!

    • Lilacflowers says:

      Now, now, now! Josh had that account at Ashley Madison for the purpose of ministry. He would connect with those fallen women and teach them to see the holy light and pray for redemption. He was trying to save their wretched immortal souls from the evil path of perdition they chose because their bodily urges led them astray. Josh was doing the Lord’s work. You sinners just don’t understand! You must be sinners or Catholics or democrats or somethin’!

      • TotallyBiased says:

        Lilac, darling, you are also making my day brighter with the magic of your words.. Hee……….

      • Liberty says:

        Oh Lilacflowers you are so right, and the fact that this pink perv used his grandmother’s home address in AK for his AM account (per NY Post) says even more about his godly caring family values! He was going to save them all!! You are the messenger to tell us of his deep urge calling!

        (I zoomed right over here after reading Gawker and Page Six too!)

      • Lilacflowers says:

        Women are perfidious! That is all.

      • Jezza says:

        Amen and testify, Sister Lilac! I hear you and have seen the error of my ways!! Brother Josh was only doing the lords work! Let us pray to the lord god almight that these doubters hear your message, so they may see their way to the path of righteousness.!!

        Jesus Jesus Jesus!!!

      • Imqrious2 says:

        Lilac flowers, DO NOT GIVE THEM ANY IDEAS!!! Lol. Wouldn’t that be hysterical if that IS what they come out with!!!

    • TotallyBiased says:

      Cait–thank you for giving me my only laugh with these horrible people:
      “Jesus H. Tebow on a crouton.”
      That’s genius right there, that is, I don’t care who you are.
      🙂

      • Bearcat Lawyer says:

        I cannot wait to use this phrase!

        As for the Duggars, remember the word of God from the Book of Friday: “The Lord said unto Felicia, “BYE!””

      • JustCrimmles says:

        I might have just shrieked in laughter so hard, I scared my cats. I’ll never see a crouton the same way again.

  49. LouLou says:

    I am here for Josh being dragged for this Ashley Madision f*ckery! I know I should be above it, but I am not. If he has an ounce of brain matter, he (and his whole damn tribe) will decide maybe they should stop lecturing other people about values they themselves do not uphold.

    • Lucy2 says:

      I’m going to be honest and say I’m not above that either- I do enjoy seeing a hypocrite exposed, especially one so cruel to others about “family values”.
      Sadly his wife will probably be forced to stick by him yet again.

  50. MrsNix says:

    I feel so sorry for his wife. The denial she will have to force herself into just to keep going will be fierce, and now with the Ashley Madison accounts coming out…good grief.

    She married a man who diddled 5 year-olds at the age of 15, and she had to deal with that. Now, he’s clearly unfaithful to her as an adult. But she’s got four kids and has been left totally bereft of any skills for any independent sort of life.

    What a sad, destitute situation she’s in. All snark aside, I want to hug that woman and help her leave. But she will stay.

    • Annoyed says:

      This. There are no words. Wonder how Jim Bob will try to excuse spin this pile ol shizzle….with no thought to his daughter in law or grandchildren whatsoever….

      Edited to add – i think Lilacflowers nailed it up thread!

    • Tate says:

      I feel sad for her too.

    • Miss Melissa says:

      She has nowhere to go and no options.

      No woman in that culture does.

      She is good an truly trapped.

  51. Majicou says:

    Wait, weren’t they making money before to support their family? They should probably go back to those ways then.

  52. mrsathomas says:

    So old Joshy boy has hit the news as one of the first ashley Madison leaks…

    https://www.yahoo.com/tv/s/disgraced-19-kids-star-josh-duggar-named-ashley-220406898.html

  53. Jayna says:

    So Josh was on Ashley Madison advertising for more side hugs, I see. I guess Jim Bob and Michelle will blame his wife for not keeping their beloved son’s love tank full.

    • Tate says:

      Most likely.

    • Vampi says:

      *record scratch*
      Wait….WHAT!!????
      Oh.Em.Geeeeeeee!!!!
      This is gonna be EPIC! It’s probably all that websites fault! It made him click. It made him cheat. Darn harlots! Oh man…lol!
      How wil poor Josh spin this one? Will Jesus and Mom and Pop Duggar just forgive him again?
      Tune in tomorrow for another episode of “As The Stomach Turns”
      This should be the final nail in the Phony Holy Duggars coffin.
      GrumpyCatGood.jpg

  54. LAK says:

    OMG Josh Duggar!!!!!!!! I can’t wait for tomorrow’s thread.

  55. Fluff says:

    Vile vile people. I hope those two girls are able to separate from the cult (of the family) one day and find proper healing.

  56. Vampi says:

    If it isn’t obvious, I started re-reading the thread from the bottom up before I posted above, so I was like….”WUT?!!” Oh Karma, it’s SO nice to see you…and right before their “Very Special Duggar Documentary” about how to handle victims of molestation and sin is soon to air. Ha! Betcha not now! What say you TLC???? This gon be guuuuuuud!

  57. Vampi says:

    OhMyGosh Kaiser!!! It looks as if he may have been on OK Cupid too!!!
    http://uproxx.com/media/2015/08/josh-duggar-okcupid/

  58. Veronica says:

    I am baffled by people who think “understand” and “condone” are synonymous terms.

  59. Betti says:

    I wonder if Jim bob has an account as well?!?!!? Wouldn’t surprise me.