Kelly File: Duggar Interview Part 2 2015.06.05

[ZoloftBlob]

 

Agreed, ZB.  Not everyone is a hugger.  If my sister were crying, I would want to hug her, and she would be "WTF?" if I tried it.  lol

Seriously, Photofox, I think my sister would recoil with "ARE YOU HIGH? OR DRUNK? WHY ARE YOU TOUCHING ME!!!"

 

It's just not how we were raised - I'm not british but Dad is and um... British people don't touch!

[alegria]

Why hasn't Josh's wife "volunteered" to be interviewed?  I'd be scared for my children.

[ChicksDigScars]

It made me sad that Jessa didn't reach out to comfort Jill after she broke down crying. You'd think she would have held her hand or put an arm around her but she didn't move a muscle.

 

Yeah, I was thinking, "Jesus. Just reach out and put your damn hand on her sholulder. Do SOMETHING."

 

It reminded me of the photo that made the rounds of Jana, with tears in her eyes, and Jessa, seated next to her, looking over at her. Jessa's face was totally unemotional and blank. No hugs. No comfort. We've seen Jill, Jana, Jinger and Joy all become emotional over various things, but Jessa? Not really. She's rather cold.

 

Why hasn't Josh's wife "volunteered" to be interviewed?  I'd be scared for my children.

 

Good god, she'd be a mess. Jill's tears on steroids. Being 9 months pregnant wouldn't help matters.

Edited June 6, 2015 by ChicksDigScars

[doodlebug]

Just chiming in to agree; that was painful, worse than watching Jim Bob and Michelle.  I already knew I didn't like the parents; I never minded the girls so much.  The main thing I got from the interview (other than a general sense of nausea) was that these two girls have been so poorly educated, have been so isolated from mainstream American life and have been so thoroughly indoctrinated in the Gothard cult that it is unlikely that they could ever function in regular society.  The lapses in logic, the misdirected anger, the inability to do anything other than spout  pre-scripted talking points without regard to whether they were even answering the question that was asked or even making any logical sense; it was kinda pathetic. 

 

They complain about In Touch and how it is part of a porno empire while conveniently ignoring the fact that their family has become wealthy by appearing on a network alongside such principled uplifting, morally righteous fare as Sex Sent Me to the ER, Long Island Medium and Buying Naked. 

 They repeatedly complain that InTouch told lies about their family when all it did was release a police report, none of which they dispute.  And which they conveniently forget contains their own statements to the police about the molestation that they suffered in which they offer specific details about the events; events that they now claim they don't remember and never did.  Someone is telling lies and it isn't In Touch.  Are they saying the cop who took their statements fabricated their interviews?

.  Finally, they seemingly forgot what the scripted answer was supposed to be when asked if they were afraid to be in the house with Josh.  The timeline that is out there, one that none of them has disputed and some have confirmed, indicates that Jim Bob and Michelle found out about the molestations more than a year before Josh was sent to work construction.  Both JB and Michelle have said that they immediately questioned the girls involved to see what they knew and that it had occurred in the girls' bedroom (ie specifically to Jessa and Jill).  However, the girls said that Josh was sent away almost immediately after they spoke to their parents.  Say what?  Either, JB and Michelle were lying when they said they talked to the girls right away and instead waited more than a year to investigate (quite possible, IMO) or the girls lived in the same house as their abuser for more than a year while he molested multiple other children in that home.  Neither option paints a pretty picture.  Their spin doctor must've really started spinning when he heard them completely contradict the timeline they were supposed to use.

 

Finally, I loved how Jessa managed to repeatedly tell us how awestruck everyone at DCFS was at how wonderfully her parents had handled the whole thing, just exemplary.  Lucky for her, those records are sealed.

Edited June 6, 2015 by doodlebug

[cheatincheetos]

And whoa! InTouch is owned by a major porn provider? Exploiting women?

Good thing that they work for a cable network that never, ever exploits people in a voyeuristic way.

[Cherrio]

''They complain about In Touch and how it is part of a porno empire while conveniently ignoring the fact that their family has become wealthy by appearing on a network alongside such principled uplifting, morally righteous fare as Sex Sent Me to the ER, Long Island Medium and Buying Naked.''

 

You forgot My 300 Lb. Scrotum.

 

Seriously, excellent post!

[cheatincheetos]

They'll all sit in the living room and cry as JB announces it. Then they'll blame it all on the "liberal agenda."

And girls. Remember, everything is always magically the female's fault in Gothardland.

[BitterApple]

The Duggars are in luck because they can say whatever they want, but the professionals involved with the case are bound by confidentiality rules. For all we know the social workers thought Boob and Michelle were shit parents but had no legal grounds to remove children from the home. My friend works for CPS and believe me, it's the story of her life. Same goes for the "licensed" counseling. It's not like a psychologist can come forward and say "yeah, I treated the Duggar girls." Aside from the police report, the Duggars have plenty of room to re-write history.

[NikSac]

Plus they're all still maintaining it was "Really quick, over clothes, and very subtle...while we were asleep."....and at the time none of them had any idea what had happened until later when M and JB told them about it. Really??

 

Exactly. Either they were asleep or they weren't. If they were, they don't know what happened. If you're going to lie (or make your kids lie), at least try to make logical sense.

[BitterApple]

You forgot My 300 Lb. Scrotum.

To this day I can't walk by a rack of Hoodies in a department store without blushing....

TLC is also responsible for the pedo heaven known as Toddlers and Tiaras, so yeah, Jessa might want to rethink her comment.

[IndianPaintbrush]

Josh may be keeping a low profile, but I for one am extremely happy about it.  Why should that guy get any more airtime?  There's nothing he can say that makes it better, and as usual he'll just come off as gross and smug.  The Duggars are savvy enough not to make that mistake. 

 

Frankly I don't care to ever see his face on my television again.  Just seeing his picture creeps me out.  

[MyPeopleAreNordic]

I'm pretty sure that Jessa was absent the day that God handed out tender hearts.

I know people are criticizing her lack of emotion, absence of tears, not comforting Jill, etc. But I actually think this is a defense mechanism - and perhaps a pretty good one to have in that family. My guess is my feelings about my whole family (and perhaps the world) had this happened to me as a child would be to have a stone cold demeanor. I know lots of people who have been through a lot of hurt in their lives and as a result they now have a very emotionless personality as a way to put up walls to protect themselves from further emotional abuse. Jessa may not really want to touch anyone or have anyone touch her because of what happened with Josh. It seems to me that Jessa's stoic demeanor might actually be an asset in Gothardism as opposed to Jill's more emotional personality. Both of these girls have been through so much that I cannot snark on how emotional they are or are not. I can't imagine doing an interview like this two months postpartum, so my heart really went out to Jill. I also think maybe Jessa felt like she had to be stoic because she was afraid Jill was going to completely lose it. She looked to me like she was cautiously watching Jill hoping that she'd be able to keep it together and to be able to jump in if she couldn't. Maybe she knew if she touched/comforted Jill, she'd also break down and she figured one of them had to be stoic and it was going to have to be her.

I just feel so badly for these girls.

I'd like to imagine that after the interview, Megyn Kelly took them both by the hands and whispered to them "This was in no way your fault. You don't have to let this define you or your future." And then she slipped them her phone number if they ever "need to talk" (and hopefully that was understood code for "help you get out."

That's really rich coming from people who live in a culture steeped in overwhelming patriarchy. Then again, they don't seem to understand the definition of hypocrisy.

Exactly. I was almost stunned they threw the porn thing in there. Because really, are we saying that not protecting the girls from a known predator (after the first confession) and a culture that views women as a man's property and broodmare is somehow less exploitative of women than porn? Ugh.

Edited June 6, 2015 by MyPeopleAreNordic

[bencr]

''They complain about In Touch and how it is part of a porno empire while conveniently ignoring the fact that their family has become wealthy by appearing on a network alongside such principled uplifting, morally righteous fare as Sex Sent Me to the ER, Long Island Medium and Buying Naked.''

 

You forgot My 300 Lb. Scrotum.

 

Seriously, excellent post!

 

This literally made me spit out my coffee.

 

There's so little humor on this topic (for obvious reasons) you completely caught me by surprise!

[auntieminem]

Don't be too hard on Jessa for appearing cold.  I act that way too.  The most important thing to me is to be strong and in the worst situations, I am very calm and cool. I cry in private.  As to sounding rehearsed, I am sure they have talked about it over and over between them as well as with their parents.  Retelling their recollections so maybe there stories sound the same because that is their recollection.  

 

People keep saying they contradict the police report, I don't want to reread that as it feels too invasive, but my recollection is they say they were asleep and were told they were touched.  

[natyxg]

Well this is a tricky one. I wrote a long post, but erased it because I prefer to err on the side of caution and I don't know if I was being innapropiate.

 

I will just say that I am not fully buying what all four of them are selling, and leave it at that.

[Cherrio]

To this day I can't walk by a rack of Hoodies in a department store without blushing....

TLC is also responsible for the pedo heaven known as Toddlers and Tiaras, so yeah, Jessa might want to rethink her comment.

Hoodies LOL          

[bluebonnet]

Has anyone had a chance to type up a sort of transcript?  I feel so creepy evaluating this interview from molestation victims, but I just found it so upsetting how even there sentence structure was the same as the ones their parents used.  Like discussing safeguards, it was said they same exact way both times ("two don't go off and hide").  This is what I really have an issue with.  The girls can react whatever way they want to what happened to them, but every time they are discussing what happened to them, it's such a specific script.  Of course, I acknowledge that anyone giving an interview is going to prepare, but preparation doesn't mean that four different people memorize the exact same things.  

 

This just makes me despise Michelle and Jim Bob even more.  I hope there is a massive boycott of TLC and all of their sponsors if they don't cancel this show completely.  These people shouldn't have these public platforms.  TLC also needs to make sure to find a way to offer every one of them some sort of therapy.  Real, licensed, non-Gothard therapy.  

[Sew Sumi]

I do not have a molester in my home but as a victim of abuse as a child believe me there are safeguards in my home.  My kids are mostly grown but the rules I had were strict and we did not bend them.  EVER.

 

It's not 2/3 but it is really high based on this report I found.  Full disclosure, I know nothing about the website I just googled and this came up.  A study conducted in 1986 found that 63% of women who had suffered sexual abuse by a family member also reported a rape or attempted rape after the age of 14. Recent studies in 2000, 2002, and 2005 have all concluded similar results (page 8).  The typical statistic I see is 1 in 5 women have experienced sexual abuse. Honestly, in my circle of friends it's higher. Which makes me wonder if the statistic is off because so many girls still don't report and when they do it's brushed off like this case.

 

ETA: I understood the 2/3 as referring to the sexual abuse in general not necessarily by a sibling.

This stat has a qualifier. It is about the fate of abuse VICTIMS, not actual abuse rates. When I liveblogged, the first thing I said was "CITE!!!!"

Edited June 6, 2015 by Sew Sumi

[MyPeopleAreNordic]

I haven't watched the show much but had I not known better, I would have thought Jill was the younger sister. While neither of them are articulate, Jessa came off as the better spokeswoman of the two. Her lack of baby voice helped. I am also not saying this to be mean- does Jill have a slight speech impediment? Or does she wear a retainer or something? Or was it the baby voice?

[Potato511]

MK asks if they were ever angry at their abuser. 

 

Jessa replies: [word-for-word transcript]

 

I think, for us, our situation is so different than for most girls in that he was very subtle [unintelligible word] like, he knew in his mind:

"My actions are wrong and I have bad intentions", but it was very sly.

 

Like, the girls didn't catch on, y'know?

 

It was like, OK, if he catches a girl sleeping, y'know, like, a quick feel or whatever.

 

And, or, like, y'know, if you're just not really aware, y'know? 

 

In the situations that happened when the girls were awake, it's like, they weren't aware of what was happening.

 

It was very subtle.

 

And so I think that for us, it's like, OK, we realize this is serious, but at the same time it wasn't like, a horror story or like this terrible thing where we're like, oh my goodness...

 

Jill interjects, quietly: scarred for life.

[msblossom]

I watched part of the interview with Megyn Kelley tonight and I have to say I'm not happy about any of it and I wish Jessa and Jill hadn't agreed to the interview. But if Jessa and Jill claim they've forgiven Josh, then who am I to question it? If they feel they've received appropriate counseling for their trauma and have effectively moved on -- that's fine and I wish them the best. They're adults now and have publicly sounded off and want everyone to back off and away from this. I don't blame them, it's their experience. I think they're so pissed off that their show is in the toilet and that their spinoff may never happen. I hope it doesn't. Staying tied into TLC keeps them tied to JB in a way that is so unhealthy. They need to learn to live independently from the Duggars and the unrealistic lifestyle that being on tv has afforded them. It might take them a minute, but they're better off.

[Temperance]

I actually came out of longtime lurkdom from both here and twop to comment on this interview. But, first let me say what a group of articulate and sincere people you all are. Anyway, did anyone notice how Jessa was quick to say they took care of it through "licensed" counseling (you know, the counseling that Josh paid for himself) , stressing the "licensed" because they know no one believes they went to real therapy?

Like when TLC showed the certification on the wall at Jill's midwife.

[SinInTheCamp]

Talk about word soup! I didn't realize that Jessa's as bad as Farrah from Teen Mom when it comes to stringing a bunch of random words together that often contradict each other or jump to other topics even within the SAME sentence. 

Edited June 6, 2015 by SinInTheCamp

[MelineB13]

"Why has no one admitted that some of the girls were awake during some of the "inappropriate touching" incidents?! "

The impression I got was that the girls who were awake weren't aware that what Josh was doing was wrong. They were young and naive and probably thought he was playing and it wasn't until the parents told them that those kind of touches were inappropriate that they knew.

I also get the sense that their two incidents didn't happen at the same time, hence the difference in timing for how long after it occurred that Josh left.

Finally, I agree that it LOOKS cold that Jessa didn't comfort Jill. But I know my sister cries harder and gets embarrassed when you comfort her so maybe Jessa was trying to allow Jill to regain her composure quicker.

[BitterApple]

Well if the Duggars served her Tater Tot Cassie while she was there she probably gained a good ten pounds of water weight from all the sodium!

[MyPeopleAreNordic]

Talk about word soup! I didn't realize that Jessa's as bad as Farrah from Teen Mom when it comes to stringing a bunch of random words together that often contradict each other or jump to other topics even within the SAME sentence.

At least Jessa can blame this on her "school of the dining room table" education.

[NikSac]

People keep saying they contradict the police report, I don't want to reread that as it feels too invasive, but my recollection is they say they were asleep and were told they were touched.  

 

I'll buy the part about them being told later, although it's hard to believe they wouldn't have woken up. But let's say they didn't... the part I don't buy at all is how they can possibly know it was "quick," "over clothes," and "very subtle" if they weren't even awake.

[Schmoopy]

Talk about word soup! I didn't realize that Jessa's as bad as Farrah from Teen Mom when it comes to stringing a bunch of random words together that often contradict each other or jump to other topics even within the SAME sentence. 

 

SinintheCamp...I was thinking of you when Megyn asked the girls if there was anything else that might come out. I knew it wouldnt come up but I was practically yelling at my TV..."What about the whole Sin in the Camp thing!"  While they are clearing things up, lets get those facts out on the table.

[sleekandchic]

Josh may be keeping a low profile, but I for one am extremely happy about it.  Why should that guy get any more airtime?  There's nothing he can say that makes it better, and as usual he'll just come off as gross and smug.  The Duggars are savvy enough not to make that mistake. 

 

Frankly I don't care to ever see his face on my television again.  Just seeing his picture creeps me out.

If Josh sat for an interview, it would be a major disaster.

We know what he did. Duggars arent denying, even as they are minimizing.

Josh could excuse, recuse, apologize, minimize, tranquilize, weep and gnash. Wouldnt matter.

Best for him to lay lower than low. I feel sorry for his wife and kids. If I were her, Id never get a good night's sleep again. Waiting, dreading, waiting, praying. A shitty way to live.

[Potato511]

MK asks if they were ever angry at their abuser. 

 

Jessa replies: [word-for-word transcript]

 

I think, for us, our situation is so different than for most girls in that he was very subtle [unintelligible word] like, he knew in his mind:

"My actions are wrong and I have bad intentions", but it was very sly.

 

Like, the girls didn't catch on, y'know?

 

It was like, OK, if he catches a girl sleeping, y'know, like, a quick feel or whatever.

 

And, or, like, y'know, if you're just not really aware, y'know? 

 

In the situations that happened when the girls were awake, it's like, they weren't aware of what was happening.

 

It was very subtle.

 

And so I think that for us, it's like, OK, we realize this is serious, but at the same time it wasn't like, a horror story or like this terrible thing where we're like, oh my goodness...

 

Jill interjects, quietly: scarred for life.

I wanted to let this stand on it's own, but I think it shows at least two things. That Josh was indeed behaving in a predatory, "grooming" way, and that the chances that these girls received secular counseling, or counseling by anyone trained in sexual abuse, is slim to none (witness the minimization, comparing, and denial of having had any negative emotions toward the perpetrator).

[DangerousMinds]

Jessa, porn is perfectly legal.

[mythoughtis]

What did his step-dad say?

Its not that he said anything on camera, as much as his general attitude on camera says volumes. I am positive that he tried to warn Derick to stay away from the Duggars -wouldn't you?

[MyPeopleAreNordic]

I just want to say to the girls if by some chance they should read here:

You did nothing wrong.

As far as it could have been worse and you could have been raped: But you know what? Don't compare what happened to you to what happens to other girls. What happened to you happened to you and you have the right to feel angry or upset about it even if it wasn't the worst case scenario. You do not need to be thankful the abuse wasn't as bad as others have been subjected to. You have still been abused and you have a right to own that and be angry about it it without feeling guilty about doing so. What happened to you is still bad. You deserve the freedom to admit to yourself that it was without feeling lucky it wasn't worse. You weren't lucky. You were still abused. Josh had no right to do this to you.

I know you love your parents and your brother. That's okay. If you think they did the best they could and you are at peace with that, I hope that you can navigate your relationship with them in a way that makes you happy & comfortable. It's okay to love them. Conversely, if you up and decide you don't want to have any relationship with them, that's okay as well.

If you one day find that you haven't actually forgiven Josh, that's okay.

I wouldn't pass judgment on you if it took you years to process and forgive him. I wouldn't pass judgement on you if you never forgive him.

You are justified in your feelings about being identified as the victims and I would feel the same. Even if the report was legally obtained, you are still justified to be upset about this coming out. I would be.

You don't have to speak on this subject ever again if you don't want to.

Please be aware that trauma from your childhood can pop back up at any moment in adulthood. If you feel like you need help, please reach out to someone who is qualified and experienced in working with sexual assault within families.

Edited June 6, 2015 by MyPeopleAreNordic

[SinInTheCamp]

 

SinintheCamp...I was thinking of you when Megyn asked the girls if there was anything else that might come out. I knew it wouldnt come up but I was practically yelling at my TV..."What about the whole Sin in the Camp thing!"  While they are clearing things up, lets get those facts out on the table.

 

And I could never have dreamed when I chose this moniker (years ago, on TWoP), that the Sin in the Camp was THIS! I always thought Josh and another teenager at a Gothard conference or something had been caught in the act of "inappropriate hand-holding" or something. Never this! I feel bad now for all the times I snickered at Jim Boob for coining that phrase. I had no idea what it really meant.

Edited June 6, 2015 by SinInTheCamp

[Joe Jitsu913]

Jessa, porn is perfectly legal.

Jessa is incredulous at the idea of a gossip magazine being owned by a porn distributor, yet the Duggars blindly followed Doug Phillips and Bill Gothard, both of whom engaged in behavior that was non-conensual and predatory (much like Josh). So molestation and criminal behavior is okay in the Duggars' point of view, but consensual sex filmed on camera between two adults is not okay??? Again, their belief system is severely corrupt.

[JoanArc]

I watched. I was just flat out sickened. Obvious coaching, save-our-ass, don't look at the script in Jill's lap BS. It's hard to put into words, but it was viscerally violating to hear Jill and Jessa speak. I'm really shocked this made it out on the air. I feel SO angry.

 

Jill-Bot and Jessa-Bot took to their new programing, but not well.

 

Jessa, at one point was like - oh yeah that fifth victim is fine. Very glib. She's not a family member, Jessa really wouldn't know.

 

The DHS complimented the way it was handled? Yeah, I'm sure they gave the parents bonus points for waiting a year, then suing when Josh was an adult.

 

NO WAY is a spinoff happening, or should happen, after seeing that. I simply couldn't watch that. Everyone but Josh and his parents didn't deserve the show to end, but then no one deserves a show in the first place, whether you consider it you full time job or not. Everyone in the family needs a fresh round of therapy, and time to set up private lives.

 

So very disappointed.

[Morgalisa]

I was surprised that the sheltered Duggar girls were aware there is such a thing as porn.

Also, so far, pretty much everything Alice wrote 7 years ago is true. She is the one they should be angry at. Sounds like she was very close to the family and knew insider info. She also seemed to have a vendetta against Mary. BTW, where is Mary?

[Quilt Fairy]

And whoa! InTouch is owned by a major porn provider? Exploiting women?

Maybe Josh can get a job there. He's got street cred now.

[zoomama]

well said, Mypeoplearenordic, well said!

Edited June 6, 2015 by zoomama

[MarysWetBar]

I think these two have inadvertently shown other victims that their valid trauma is "no biggie."

I'm too horrified by all of this to post more tonight. I will add though that the girls reminded me eerily of the Manson girls..their affect and the blind devotion to their family unit.

[RandomX]

I have great sympathy for Jill and Jessa.

However, if the thinking behind the them doing this interview was because

--they would perform the best

--they are married and thus can portray that the molestation did not harm them long term

--they are better known, which would make them more sympathetic / believable

it didn't work for me. I saw young women who seemed far younger than their years, who were a bizarre combination of naivete and sharp observations on FOIA procedures and porn's exploitation of women, and who both seem to be dealing with some difficult (unknown) issues in different ways. I couldn't help but think that if Jill and Jessa are the two 'success stories' in terms of how Jim Bob and Michelle handled the situation, my heart breaks for them and the other young women. They need healing.

The thought of the show continuing makes me ill.

Edited June 6, 2015 by RandomX

[MyPeopleAreNordic]

Why hasn't Josh's wife "volunteered" to be interviewed?  I'd be scared for my children.

My guess is that as they become more desperate to rehab their image (and of course, precious Prince Josh's image), they will have Anna come out for an interview as part of this Duggar Redemption Side Show.

I don't think it would be a good PR decision, but they obviously aren't good at those anyway. I'm pretty sure they'll throw Anna into the spotlight at some point. She's probably up next in the lineup after Jill and Jessa.

I don't think this family will be able to stop talking and parading out every possible family member they have.

[sleekandchic]

Who is Mary, please?

I hope the DHS sent the Duggars Dutch flowers, Belgian chocolates, and Parisian perfumes! Such a great family! Oh how expertly they handled these dire, life-changing events! One, two, three, four, bury it beneath the basement floor!

DHS, I bet, created a brochure using the Duggies as role models and examples. Right? Am I right? Im sure im right!

[Sew Sumi]

Question:  Does anyone here know the time-line re: the Harpo cancellation of the Duggars on the Oprah show? (i.e., had the Duggars already done a special?)  Another question:  What do you suppose Harpo TOLD Jim Bob & Michelle as to WHY they would not be featuring them on Oprah (despite the fact they flew them all to Chicago, put 'em up in a hotel, etc.)???  We'll never know the answer to that one, will we? 

That was 12/06. All the specials were done (the last one done 3/06). This was about one year out from when they started taping the shows, Mother's Day weekend 2008. Smugggar wasn't even engaged at this point, only courting. 

Megyn. Your treatment is appalling LEADING THE WITNESS. 

Edited June 6, 2015 by Sew Sumi

[Potato511]

I just want to say to the girls if by some chance they should read here:

You did nothing wrong.

As far as it could have been worse and you could have been raped: But you know what? Don't compare what happened to you to what happens to other girls. What happened to you happened to you and you have the right to feel angry or upset about it even if it wasn't the worst case scenario. You do not need to be thankful the abuse wasn't as bad as others have been subjected to. You have still been abused and you have a right to own that and be angry about it it without feeling guilty about doing so. What happened to you is still bad. You deserve the freedom to admit to yourself that it was without feeling lucky it wasn't worse. You weren't lucky. You were still abused. Josh had no right to do this to you.

I know you love your parents and your brother. That's okay. If you think they did the best they could and you are at peace with that, I hope that you can navigate your relationship with them in a way that makes you happy & comfortable. It's okay to love them. Conversely, if you up and decide you don't want to have any relationship with them, that's okay as well.

If you one day find that you haven't actually forgiven Josh, that's okay.

I wouldn't pass judgment on you if it took you years to process and forgive him. I wouldn't pass judgement on you if you never forgive him.

You are justified in your feelings about being identified as the victims and I would feel the same. Even if the report was legally obtained, you are still justified to be upset about this coming out. I would be.

You don't have to speak on this subject ever again if you don't want to.

Please be aware that trauma from your childhood can pop back up at any moment in adulthood. If you feel like you need help, please reach out to someone who is qualified and experienced in working with sexual assault within families.

Good counsel :-) My first impulse toward these young women after seeing the interview was to say what a good job I thought you did, under this difficult circumstance of having been outed as sexual abuse survivors without your consent, and of having your future plans suddenly turned into a big question mark. I believe there are good things in store for you outside of the show, and I wish you the best. 

[MyPeopleAreNordic]

The way the girls were repeating how this kind of thing happens SO MUCH and worse cases happen to SO MANY girls, combined with JimBob saying how many families have said the same thing happened to them, makes me concerned for the kids and women in the Duggar Family's social circle.

It would have been better if they had something like "this sort of thing happens more than people admit or know" or something. But to make it sound like there's an epidemic of this abuse going on in the families they know and have talked to? Well, that makes me think that there IS an epidemic of abuse going in the Fundy world of NW Arkansas and Gothardville/Vision Forumville/etc.

Edited June 6, 2015 by MyPeopleAreNordic

[JoanArc]

 

I will add though that the girls reminded me eerily of the Manson girls..their affect and the blind devotion to their family unit.

On one hand I have sympathy for what they went/are going through. But...I don't know, they seemed more soulless at the same time. The story was obviously not the truth, their truth, remotely accurate, or honest. To go on national TV and willingly put out stuff like this, was just so self-serving, calculating, and cold. I guess all cults start looking alike, if you get deep enough.

[Loves2Dance]

I'm pretty sure that Jessa was absent the day that God handed out tender hearts.

I think Jessa realized it was just another way her sister upstaged her. I mean, literally...

 

Jessa courts first; Jill marries first.

Jessa gets married; Jill gets pregnant and the spotlight goes away instantly

Jessa gets pregnant; but Jill hasn't delivered yet so she has to wait to announce it

Jessa announces her pregnancy; Josh's scandal comes out

Jessa & Jill do an interview; Jill breaks down and Jessa already knows she'll take everyone's attention.

 

The show is likely canceled and Jessa's fame is over.

[Jusagirlintheworld]

Jessa is incredulous at the idea of a gossip magazine being owned by a porn distributor, yet the Duggars blindly followed Doug Phillips and Bill Gothard, both of whom engaged in behavior that was non-conensual and predatory (much like Josh). So molestation and criminal behavior is okay in the Duggars' point of view, but consensual sex filmed on camera between two adults is not okay??? Again, their belief system is severely corrupt.

I'm not sure how to phrase this, but I'll try. I was surprised at the judgment leveled at In-Touch's parent company as a distributor of (legal) pornography. I was surprised that Jessa claimed that porn "makes objects out of women" and In-Touch's connection to porn may have motivated it to publicize the stories on the Duggars.

Maybe the PR professionals could weigh in on whether that was a prudent point to raise.

The Duggars themselves have acknowledged that their critics allege they are hypocrites who judge adults' lifestyle and sexual choices while harboring and minimizing illegal child molestation in their home.

Wouldn't casting additional judgment on another legal sexual choice (porn) give more weight to their critics' cries of hypocrisy?

Again, I'm not a PR professional. I thought the interview was to rehabilitate the Duggar image. It just seemed to be an odd statement for that type of interview.

[DropDeadDullard]

Mary is Grandma Duggar.

I've been following this since news broke, but I am so completely disgusted by all of this I can't even form my feelings into proper words.

All of this lying (spoon-fed to the girls, most likely ) makes me wonder if there's something bigger they are trying to hide. I won't speculate as to what, though.