One of TLC's brightest stars, the Duggar family, has been cast into scandal after allegations emerged that Josh Duggar, one of the family's 19 children, molested young girls. The child molestation may have been incestual, as reports indicate some of his victims might have been his own sisters.
The show, 19 Kids and Counting, centers heavily around Josh Duggar and his sisters, who were brought up in a very conservative, religious household. The parents do not allow the girls to kiss before marriage, subject their daughters to traditional courtship rules, and home-school their children. They have been outspoken against LGBT rights. Josh Duggar has stepped down from his position at the Family Research Council, a Christian conservative lobbying group, as a result of this molestation scandal.
The Duggars are members of the Quiverfull movement, which is a sect of Protestantism which does not allow for any form of birth control and encourages reproduction. Children brought up within the movement are educated through home-schooling, and women live under the authority of their husband.
TLC faced a separate molestation scandal on another show, Here Comes Honey Boo Boo, last year. That show was canceled after photographs of a cast member with a convicted child molester surfaced. However, TLC has not yet canceled 19 Kids and Counting. Duggar and his family admitted to Josh's involvement in child molestation and noted that authorities were involved when it first occurred over a decade ago. In the wake of the scandal, TLC has pulled reruns of the show.
Though TLC may still be deciding the fate of the Duggar's, advertisers have been quick to separate themselves from the show. General Mills, Choice Hotels, Payless ShoeSource and, most recently, Walgreens have all pulled advertisements from 19 Kids.
The family issued only one statement on the matter, citing their faith repeatedly and apologizing for Josh's actions. The Duggar girls who were reportedly abused have not come forward. Josh Duggar was never prosecuted for the molestation accusations.
Uncommon Knowledge
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
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Polly Mosendz is a breaking news reporter for Newsweek. She was previously a staff writer for The Wire and associate ... Read more
