Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar are breaking their silence concerning the new docuseries digging into their lives and beliefs.
The couple — made well-known by their TLC actuality reveals and later scandals involving eldest son Josh, who’s serving 12 years in jail on baby porn fees — calls Prime Video’s Shiny Blissful Individuals: Duggar Household Secrets and techniques, which they did not take part in, “derogatory and sensationalized.” Among the many doc claims are that the 19 Youngsters and Counting dad and mom coated up Josh molesting 5 women, 4 of whom had been their daughters, when he was a teen and didn’t get him therapy. Their daughter Jill Duggar Dillard, one of many victims, participated within the doc, and stated her dad and mom pressured her to defend Josh when the allegations surfaced.
“The latest ‘documentary’ that talks about our household is gloomy as a result of in it we see the media and people with sick intentions hurting individuals we love,” the couple stated in a press release on their web site on Friday. “Like different households, ours too has skilled the thrill and heartbreaks of life, simply in a really public format. This ‘documentary’ paints a lot and so many in a derogatory and sensationalized method as a result of sadly that is the path of leisure today.”
The assertion continued, “We have now all the time believed that the perfect likelihood to restore broken relationships, or to reconcile variations, is thru love in a personal setting. We love each member of our household and can proceed to do all we will to have an excellent relationship with each. By each the triumphs and the trials we have now clung to our religion all of the extra and found that by the love and charm of Jesus, we discover energy, consolation and function.”
Amy Duggar King, who additionally speaks out towards her household within the doc, slammed her uncle and aunt’s assertion.
“Information flash: Should you would have gotten Josh the true, true assist that he wanted a very long time in the past — precise remedy — we would not be on this mess,” Amy stated in an Instagram video. “These stunning women would not have a lot to heal from. You aren’t a sufferer right here. Cease taking part in the sufferer.”
Amy additionally took challenge with Jim Bob and Michelle saying they like to “reconcile variations” privately, writing, “Anybody discover what looks as if to me… gaslighting? The ‘non-public settings’ are what we’re talking up about!”
The four-part doc appears to be like at how the ministry the household lengthy adopted and touted on their reveals, Institute in Primary Life Ideas (IBLP), teaches that ladies ought to be obedient to their husband and children are taught to comply with patriarchal requirements and to not ask questions. Teachings embrace that when dangerous issues occur, members ought to pray to place it behind them or ignore it fairly than communicate up, ex-IBLP members claimed.
The doc appears to be like at how that educating was in play across the molestation allegations towards Josh, but additionally the way it additionally cultivated a poisonous setting throughout the IBLP ministry. Invoice Gothard, who based IBLP and promoted “male superiority and feminine obedience,” was accused of sexual harassment and molestation by over 30 girls, together with some minors, main him to step down in 2014. The doc appears to be like at how Josh was despatched to an IBLP facility in 2003 when his dad and mom discovered he had been molesting women. There, he did not get psychological well being remedy however did handbook labor as an alternative. Jim Bob picked him up early.
On Friday, Jill additionally posted a video to Instagram following Jim Bob and Michelle’s assertion bashing the doc. In it, she thanked followers for his or her help of her talking out. She inspired them to order her upcoming e-book, Counting the Price, co-written by her husband Derick Dillard.
“I do know it will be troublesome,” Jill stated of releasing the e-book, “however I pray that it additionally simply helps different individuals have a voice to perhaps notice that they don’t seem to be alone.”
Counting the Price, introduced earlier this week, will element the “greed, manipulation and betrayal” in addition to “secrecy and lies” they confronted, the couple promised.
Jill — the fourth Duggar baby — waded into that within the doc. She claimed she was compelled to do the 2015 Megyn Kelly interview defending Josh after his molestation claims had been made public. She stated she did not make a cent off of the truth reveals, which ran from 2008 to 2020, at the same time as an grownup in her personal spin-off, Counting On, leading to her having to go to a meals financial institution to feed her household at one level. She additionally claimed she did not wish to movie the delivery of her first baby for Counting On, however was instructed she needed to.
Jim Bob’s sister, Deanna, additionally appeared within the doc, in addition to Jim Bob and Michelle’s former finest buddies, Jim and Bobye Holt, who talked concerning the couple protecting up Josh’s abuse as a baby.
Shiny Blissful Individuals: Duggar Household government producer Blye Pagon Faus beforehand instructed Yahoo she hopes Jim Bob and Michelle watch the docuseries “and perhaps there’s some kind of reflection and adjustments.”
The docuseries is a part of a long-running unraveling of the TV household, whose conservative religion and way of life was on the heart of their reveals. 19 Youngsters and Counting was canceled in 2015 after Josh’s abuse allegations first surfaced. Spin-off Counting On was axed in 2021 after Josh — now a father of seven himself — was arrested on “worst of the worst” baby porn fees. Earlier this yr, Jinger Duggar Vuolo — the sixth Duggar — launched a e-book detailing her upbringing within the cult-like ministry and talked about how “concern was an enormous a part of my childhood.”
