Josh & Anna Smuggar: A Series of Unfortunate Events

[ZoloftBlob]

but changed his mind when he found out that some of them could be considered "finishing schools" for perverts. Is that true? Could putting kids with the same problem together in such a program be harmful in that way?

 

The theory on why it's not a good idea is that a naïve offender merely learns from others how to hide his problem. Personally I think the good outweighs the bad when it comes to sexual abuse. I mean, this wasn't stealing cars, Josh was returned to the home and to his victims with no real therepy.

[CofCinci]

Anna should be thinking about her young kids.

As a mother myself, I can imagine that her head has been spinning these last few days. I'm sure she is thinking about the safety of her children and must feel overwhelmed. She is completely without resources. She comes from a poor family. Any salary Josh made in DC was most likely quickly consumed by DC-area cost of living. I doubt the couple has seen much of the money brought in by the Duggar brand. The $55,000 wrecked house he purchased a few months ago was most likely done on JB's dime. Anna has nothing and is incapable of supporting herself.

[bencr]

The young Josh Duggar and his victims were all let down by the community of adults whose job it was to protect them. At the top of the list has to be Josh's parents -- Jim Bob and Michelle -- who conspired with law enforcement and clergy to cover up the sexual abuse and deny real treatment to both the perpetrator and his victims. I would add to that list politicians (I'm looking at you Huckabee) and TLC who chose to do the wrong thing for reasons of money and/or power. It's amazing to me that when money and power are involved whole communities of adults will disregard the needs of children.

[truthtalk2014]

 

The REALLY snarky part of me has this vision of Josh rolling up in the driveway of the newly remodeled grandma house, knocking at the door and telling a puffy-eyed Jessa and Ben "time's up.  I'ma need y'all to pack up and get out, I need the house back."

Josh does not own that house and I'm pretty sure he never did.  I think Mary signed it over to JB to put in the Duggar Trust.  

[Diffy]

I have only watched bits and pieces of episodes here and there, and I have never been on a Duggar board before, so I am sorry if this has been addressed in the past on PTV, but I have a question about the money that has been earned through the show.  I thought it would make sense to ask here because of posts expressing concern about the financial future of the younger children post-TLC, and I hope there is a lawyerly type here who can help me out:

 

Do any child actor laws apply to reality TV stars in situations like this?  Isn't it a legal requirement that children who earn money at a young age are supposed to save a significant portion of their earnings for their use after they turn 18?  I know they are not "acting" in the traditional sense, but I think an argument can be made that appearing on this show has been their job, so a portion of the "salary" must be put aside for them to use at their discretion without any reference to their parents' directives on how to spend that money. Am I way off base?  I assume that as of right now the parents have not set individual accounts aside for their children, because it has not been addressed on each child's 18th birthday.  But that doesn't necessarily mean that they are in accord with whatever law would cover a case like this.  If one of the kids had to take this to civil court to set a new precedent, what are their chances of winning? (I know this assumes that any of them would actually be interested in suing their parents in the first place; I am mostly interested in the hypothetical.)

 

I just would really like for these children to have some independent financial protection once the show is canceled, which I think is the most likely outcome.  And even if the show isn't canceled, I still think they deserve to be payed for their work!

 

You are referring to the California Child Actor's Bill here, often called the Coogan Law.  There is no Federal Law protecting child performers and setting aside percentages of their earnings for future use by the child.  Each State has its own child labor laws but provisions protecting children working in entertainment vary widely.  The California Coogan Law has been copied by a few other states (New York and Pennsylvania, for example) but in most states children working in entertainment have very few protections and no money is set aside for them.   See www.minorcon.org for further information.

[HumblePi]

I have to defend the duggar parents a little bit on this. There is so much speculation and assumptions being made but based on what I know I don't think that I would have acted much differently as a parent. If I were made aware of an incident between my son and daughter, I would be equally concerned about both of them. Obviously for different reasons but just because one did a horrible thing doesn't make me love him less or want to protect him less. If I thought it was a singular occurrence than I would talk to him about it and try to deal with him in family. When I learned of more bad behavior, I would get counsel from others and if I knew a family friend in law enforcement it doesn't seem unreasonable to go to them. Did Jimbob know this officer was a gross child porn man? Maybe but that is all purely speculation. What if he thought the guy was clean and trusted? It seems natural if you are taking a child that you love to the police to pick someone you know and think is a good guy. I would maybe even choose to send the offender to the build a house/mentor/counseling thing. Yes it isn't official psych work but perhaps the guy is really good at counseling people.

From a purely fact based standpoint, I don't see anything bad here especially given their religious views. I don't know the motivations of JimBob and Michelle and I don't know what political aspirations they had but on the surface everything seems rational. Yes they should have gotten official counseling for all of the kids but what if they couldn't afford it at the time?

According to Forbes, Jim Bob Duggar's estimated net worth was $3.6 million as of May 2015.

Josh Duggar's parents sent their son to Little Rock in March 2003 after learning he repeated the behavior he confessed to in 2002 and been disciplined for at that time. According to the police report, Jim Bob Duggar told Hignite in 2006 he sent his son to a Christian ministry in "the old Veteran's Hospital in Little Rock." Duggar said he couldn't remember the name of the program, but it involved "hard physical work and counseling." Michelle Duggar told police the place her son attended "was not really a training center" but Josh went to work for a "guy they knew in Little Rock who is remodeling a building." 

 

If one of my children was caught molesting anyone, a neighbor's child, or a sibling, I sure as heck wouldn't call on the plumber, carpenter, or the electrician to counsel him or her.

[natyxg]

Yes, I keep thinking about how JB originally agreed to send Josh to a sex-offender program but changed his mind when he found out that some of them could be considered "finishing schools" for perverts. Is that true? Could putting kids with the same problem together in such a program be harmful in that way? I have no idea, as I thankfully have not been personally affected by sexual abuse as so many here have been. I would love to know what y'all think.

 

I don't really know how the sex offenders programs are in reality, but I understand their line of thinking. I mean, I'm not saying that they were wrong or right, but knowing what we know about the Duggars and because of conservative people that I know, I image why they would think so. They are very sheltered people, even more so back in 2003. And when people are too sheltered and they hear about bad things from the news or from other people they tend to believe the hyperbole right away and accept it as truth. I figure they imagined Josh, their good but misguided christian boy who just made some mistakes, surrounded by predators who did worse things and could give him even more bad ideas that he could copy, either during therapy and just by interacting with him. So better to not do that, in their minds, because he could come back worse after having been exposed to the things they tried to hard to shelter him from.

 

Former TLC employees and crew members are encouraged to write Gawker with details of their interactions with the Duggars: http://defamer.gawke...ay-c-1706502185

Here is one, where Michelle got a gay crew member fired:

 

 

Thanks for the link. What I liked the most was this part

 

Which makes us wonder: What do you know about the Duggars?

 

I know they are referring to other people who could share their Duggar stories, but it made me think of something that has been on my mind since this broke out: that now the public at large will really know the Duggars and their beliefs, that people didn't really know them before. They made their fame by highlighting that they were a dorky family whose values were a throwback to "better" times, with the obsession with marriage and the chaperones and religion and whatever. Sure, they were anti gay but that was expected from such conservative Christians, right? So people didn't think much about that. But now the media will really show mainstream people what many online knew.

 

I too thought they were just harmless dorky people. I just occasionally caught an episode and didn't give it much thought. I thought Josh and Anna not kissing until the wedding was extreme, but whatever. The alarms when off when I saw that Jill and Derrick couldn't even have a frontal hug. I was horrified when I realized that the problem was that a frontal hug men touching breasts to chest. I realized there that there was a very pervy vibe to so many of their rules, that they sexualized everything. And something was just not right. I came online and boy was I right. I never imagined sexual abuse, but after reading so much on this forum I knew the family was off because their beliefs were so toxic and unhealthy.

[Spencer Hastings]

I kind of wish TLC would ask the girls how THEY feel about continuing without Josh or their parents. Stipulate somehow in their contracts that no money is to be given to the parents (which would probably be impossible). The parents and Josh aren't to be anywhere near them when the cameras are rolling. Let them decide what they want to do. Anything else feels like further punishment for them.

Selfishly, I will miss Mackynzie and Michael, who seem to have been raised well by their mother.

Edited May 23, 2015 by Spencer Hastings

[starfire]

I wonder what Josh and Anna will do now, and where they will live. It's doubtful Josh will have another job any time soon. Perhaps they will live in an RV in the Duggar backyard? Or maybe they will all  cram into Ben's old bedroom in the Duggar barn?

 

I feel very sorry for Josh's children, whose lives will be turned upside down over this.

[CofCinci]

I wonder what Josh and Anna will do now, and where they will live. It's doubtful Josh will have another job any time soon. Perhaps they will live in an RV in the Duggar backyard? Or maybe they will all cram into Ben's old bedroom in the Duggar barn?

I feel very sorry for Josh's children, whose lives will be turned upside down over this.

Josh and Anna do own a home there now. It's not very liveable but they could easily live in one or two rooms will JB, Josh and some of the rando sons help remodel, which was most likely the plan this whole time.

I'm texting one of my friends now who is a court-appointed victim advocate. She believes it would take weeks for the destroy records request to actually make it to the Judge. Was this something the family has worked on for a few weeks prior to the media learning about it?

[JoanArc]

Michelle treatment of the gay cameraman is inexcusable. Even the crew had to toss them seoftballs. At this point, screw 'Mr Jim' too.

 

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/compost/wp/2015/05/22/the-duggars-dangerous-cult-of-purity/

 

How nice knowing your mother considers you to be a used bicycle, and your father a cesspit of STDs.

 

 

“God can forgive any wrong choices a person is willing to confess and forsake, but there are still painful consequences to be endured.”

Jim Bob's words. My God, the irony.

 

 

You are more than your purity. And people are not bicycles or cups full of spit.

THIS!

[truthtalk2014]

I have to say that anyone that is feeling sorry for the cast and crew- don't.  They have a contract and the union and will be paid regardless.  Sure, they will have to relocate for the next show, but this is how the business works.  And, I would hope that after reading all the new info coming out, they would want to leave. 

 

My thought is that if Oprah got a letter detailing all this info- TLC did as well.  I think they chose to ignore it. I also believe that the episode with the crew gushing all over MEchelle and such was just that- gushing BS.  They had to know the end was coming and were trying to save the family.  I'm sure the children are sweet and adorable- but the stuff that has gone on behind the scenes is coming out.  I think they knew the end was near and did everything in their power to prevent it. 

[NextIteration]

So do I have this right?  The police record was expunged on behalf of a minor "Jane Doe" and the timing of this is almost exact with the InTouch posting of the police record?

 

So... it seems like someone inside the clan thought it was important for this story to get out and tipped off InTouch to request the FOI just in time?

[HumblePi]

I wonder what Josh and Anna will do now, and where they will live. It's doubtful Josh will have another job any time soon. Perhaps they will live in an RV in the Duggar backyard? Or maybe they will all  cram into Ben's old bedroom in the Duggar barn?

 

I feel very sorry for Josh's children, whose lives will be turned upside down over this.

AND I wonder if Anna will continue to have a baby for Josh every couple of years, 4 children now in a span of 5 years. Truthfully, Anna's face is showing the strain in my opinion.

[SometimesBites]

With all due respect to the writer of the Washington Post opinion piece, proposing the notion that this ugly turn of events in the Duggars’ lives could somehow engender a more interesting bit of reality TV is to completely ignore the nature of what this show is intended to do: make TLC and its sponsors lots and lots of money.

 

The implied premise of 19 Kids and Counting:

 

“Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar have a WONDERFUL family that is WONDERFUL because…JESUS! Their family is not only WONDERFUL, but is SUPER WONDERFUL and SUPER-FUNCTIONAL because…JESUS! Yes, they have a humongous number of children, but look at them…awwwww, cute as a litter of puppies! And you could probably learn a thing or two about family life from them because they have ALL THE ANSWERS! They’re frugal! They’re sweet! They’re musical! They love Tater-Tots!”

 

Jim Bob and Michelle’s premise is all of the above, plus:

 

“Our family—unlike most of you benighted, godless losers—has all the answers, AND we’re going to do you the favor of letting you watch us do it RIGHT!”

 

The actual premise of this show:

 

TLC and its sponsors have figured out that the old traveling freak show concept is a 21st century money machine. Viewers don’t want ACTUAL reality. They want a PERCEIVED reality. They want freak show versions of humdrum family life: the fundies, the plygs, the straight wife/gay husband couples, the crude and obese pageant mama, the mail order brides—on and on it goes.

 

It’s smoke and mirrors. It’s the freak show. It pays.

 

Of course, the premise never ever survives ACTUAL REALITY.

 

Actual reality is messy and unpredictable and often cruel, mean, and petty. The way this situation with the Duggars haS come out--like slicing into a shiny pink apple and finding a black worm hole at the core--has the words of Yeats’ poem “Second Coming” running over and over through my head:

 

Turning and turning in the widening gyre
The falcon cannot hear the falconer;
Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;
Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,
The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere
The ceremony of innocence is drowned;
The best lack all conviction, while the worst
Are full of passionate intensity.

 

IMO, the best thing for the Duggars and for all the viewers who have been roped into the Duggar fantasy, is for them to GET OFF TV. Sounds like TLC is scrambling to keep it alive, but let’s get real—no one will ever be able to watch it the same way again. Let’s hope the sponsors pull out. Once they do, fade to black, and back to their actual flawed and problematic life.

Edited May 23, 2015 by SometimesBites

[poopchute]

Someone posted in the comments of that Gawker article that it's fairly common knowledge that Josh frequented strip clubs. This is news to me...how did he get away with that??

[starfire]

CofCinci, on 23 May 2015 - 11:29 AM, said:

Josh and Anna do own a home there now. It's not very liveable but they could easily live in one or two rooms will JB, Josh and some of the rando sons help remodel, which was most likely the plan this whole time.

I'm texting one of my friends now who is a court-appointed victim advocate. She believes it would take weeks for the destroy records request to actually make it to the Judge. Was this something the family has worked on for a few weeks prior to the media learning about it?

Is the house they bought in the DC area or is it near the Duggar compound...or somewhere else? Thanks!

[natyxg]

So do I have this right?  The police record was expunged on behalf of a minor "Jane Doe" and the timing of this is almost exact with the InTouch posting of the police record?

 

So... it seems like someone inside the clan thought it was important for this story to get out and tipped off InTouch to request the FOI just in time?

 

Does it take a long time to get the record expunged? I thought they just reacted to the news getting out, so other people could not get it and dare to release the names. If they did not do this for over a decade, I figure it was because it never crossed their minds before.

[auntieminem]

Now this article is saying that Josh went away for treatment not the contractor story.  Or am I confused on the time?   Of course the treatment was a Gothard center.   

http://www.inquisitr.com/2113744/treatment-facility-josh-duggar-attended-for-4-months-following-molestation-allegations-revealed/

[DollEyes]

More thoughts:

 

  First of all, to all the posters who are survivors of sexual abuse: thank you for telling your stories. My heart goes out to all of you. As for the Duggars, while I've never watched their show because I knew that there was something wrong with/about them (an understatement), I feel sorry for Josh's victims and his children. Their pain gives me no pleasure whatsoever. They need to get off camera and start living some semblance of a "normal" life, which includes choosing their own beliefs, their own clothes and their own friends, even if they're the opposite sex.

 

  About Mike Huckabee, yikes! Hypocritical much, asshole? IIRC, Huckabee not only wasn't very forgiving of Former President Clinton's affair with Monica Lewinsky, he wanted him impeached. At least Clinton's fling-tacky & stupid as it was-was between consenting adults; Josh's crimes-and that's what they were-otoh, were neither consentual nor involved adults. Would Huckabee trust Josh with his daughters? I doubt it. Like Josh, JB & Michelle, Huckabee epitomizes the old saying "It is far better to be silent and thought a fool, than to speak up and remove all doubt."

 

  This whole mess is both an SNL sketch and an L&O: SVU episode begging to happen.

Edited May 23, 2015 by DollEyes

[Wellfleet]

Former TLC employees and crew members are encouraged to write Gawker with details of their interactions with the Duggars:  http://defamer.gawker.com/tell-your-duggar-tales-did-michelle-duggar-get-a-gay-c-1706502185

Here is one, where Michelle got a gay crew member fired:

 

Wow. Just - wow. This is truly eye-opening. And validating to me to a certain extent as well. My, what delicate little hothouse flowers Boob & Me-chelle were/are. Also puts a whole new spin on that "Behind the Scene" show with the crew. Complete and utter crap. PS - I hope "Jimmy" was sent to work on the The Little Couple production. Now THAT would be fun!

[SometimesBites]

It looks like the police records into the investigation have been ordered to be destroyed.

 

http://www.zap2it.com/blogs/josh_duggars_police_records_ordered_destroyed-2015-05

Guess they haven't heard of the internet. Oops!

[RazzleberryPie]

Wow. Just - wow. This is truly eye-opening. And validating to me to a certain extent as well. My, what delicate little hothouse flowers Boob & Me-chelle were/are. Also puts a whole new spin on that "Behind the Scene" show with the crew. Complete and utter crap. PS - I hope "Jimmy" was sent to work on the The Little Couple production. Now THAT would be fun!

I hope Jimmy went there, too. Now if the Little Couple has a scandal, I will actually be devastated. That's the only reality couple that i hold any standards or credibility to. They seem like really good people. 

[NikSac]

There's definitely more to this story than has been published so far. I mean, this began to unravel due to a note found in a book from the Duggar home?

 

A book? Not possible.

 

(^^ lame attempt at humor in a dark situation) 

 

I had the same response to the sections of the police report that talked about books. One child liked reading Adventure and Princess stories - really?  And Josh was reading a book to the kids while the older ones and parents were out to dinner? (about a raccoon or something - not Jesus)  I was very surprised. Especially the types of books mentioned.

[Ljohnson1987]

Duggar social media has basically stopped. I guess Smugs has nothing to post about now that he's not telling us that homosexuals are bad. Hypocrite

[NextIteration]

Does it take a long time to get the record expunged? I thought they just reacted to the news getting out, so other people could not get it and dare to release the names. If they did not do this for over a decade, I figure it was because it never crossed their minds before.

 

That's why I am confused about the timing, or what triggered which.  The judge signed of on the order to expunge the record on May 21st - the same day as the InTouch posting. 

Edited May 23, 2015 by NextIteration

[JenCarroll]

Former TLC employees and crew members are encouraged to write Gawker with details of their interactions with the Duggars:  http://defamer.gawker.com/tell-your-duggar-tales-did-michelle-duggar-get-a-gay-c-1706502185

Here is one, where Michelle got a gay crew member fired:

Among a lot of feelings about this whole thing (righteous outrage prevailing), Ive been thinking: A lot of us have noticed that production standards have been dropping; the editing has been amateurish and sometimes incoherent; and the story lines are tired. Now we find out that they've been pruning their crew choices with priority on finding people who won't offend Jim Bob and Michelle. I am not saying professed Christians are less competent in their field -- of course I'm not saying that, it would be absurd. But you have to admit, it gives them a much smaller pool of talent to draw from. If they've been making their hiring choices based on the personal values of the workers rather than their skill, it's not that surprising that the overall quality (IMO) has dropped.

[Cherrio]

I have to say that anyone that is feeling sorry for the cast and crew- don't.  They have a contract and the union and will be paid regardless.  Sure, they will have to relocate for the next show, but this is how the business works.  And, I would hope that after reading all the new info coming out, they would want to leave. 

 

My thought is that if Oprah got a letter detailing all this info- TLC did as well.  I think they chose to ignore it. I also believe that the episode with the crew gushing all over MEchelle and such was just that- gushing BS.  They had to know the end was coming and were trying to save the family.  I'm sure the children are sweet and adorable- but the stuff that has gone on behind the scenes is coming out.  I think they knew the end was near and did everything in their power to prevent it. 

I posted many pages ago about the crew, but I will say again that these TLC crews have always seen things, really bad things on many shows and have never once done a thing about it.     Yes, they sign agreements and have to make a living, but I would rather live under a bridge and make minimum wage than ever go along and keep my mouth shut.   Mr. Jim is a piece of shit, just like the rest of them. 

          It just cements the opinion of TLC , the people who work for them and the shows. Make money, fuck the children.

[HumblePi]

Duggar social media has basically stopped. I guess Smugs has nothing to post about now that he's not telling us that homosexuals are bad. Hypocrite

Here's some consolation. Josh is getting bald fast. Not only will he be a fat old man, he'll be a bald AND fat old man. Even God has a sense of humor.

 

Edited May 23, 2015 by HumblePi

[P2C2E]

I'm guessing the book was from this series which is very religious. http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/1555130887/ref=pd_aw_sim_14_1?refRID=1X1T48RMHAY4N9SX942Y

[Wellfleet]

This make me simultaneously want to vomit and punch the screen. With what we know about what at TLC knew what when, I hope hope the entire goddamn network goes down. Rage. :(

 

My sentiments exactly. Eff 'em. I won't shed Tear One if the network goes down. They had many opportunities to do the right thing and didn't.

[SometimesBites]

Former TLC employees and crew members are encouraged to write Gawker with details of their interactions with the Duggars:  http://defamer.gawker.com/tell-your-duggar-tales-did-michelle-duggar-get-a-gay-c-1706502185

Here is one, where Michelle got a gay crew member fired:

This is great reading, and I'd love to buy "Jimmy" a beer for his answer to Michelle! Not that I'm surprised by her stunted, insulated world view--this is a woman who has said that overpopulation is a "myth," because the entire human population could stand shoulder-to-shoulder and fit in the state of Texas. You can't make this shit up.

[CofCinci]

That's why I am confused about the timing, or what triggered which. The judge signed of on the order to expunge the record on May 21st - the same day as the InTouch posting.

I'm starting to wonder if someone within the courthouse saw the case was on the docket for the judge to rule on and then leaked the document? Edited May 23, 2015 by CofCinci

[Wellfleet]

With all that's coming to light, it really seems impossible to imagine there will be any sponsors that will come forward and proudly sponsor the show from this point out. IF the Duggars do want to continue, for whatever reason, and IF TLC decides to move forward as well? I for one would carpet-bomb any organization that did sponsor them with letters, e-mails, phone calls - that's for sure. And I know I'm not alone in that... 

[Cherrio]

This is great reading, and I'd love to buy "Jimmy" a beer for his answer to Michelle! Not that I'm surprised by her stunted, insulated world view--this is a woman who has said that overpopulation is a "myth," because the entire human population could stand shoulder-to-shoulder and fit in the state of Texas. You can't make this shit up.

It was well written and I can see that scenario happening , but these people sign confidentially agreements that last a long time. So, while it is my hope this person is the first decent person to climb out of the TLC cesspool.....it could also be made up.        Maybe now that the shit has hit the fan crew and former crew will just let it all out because they know they can now.     If TLC starts suing them, it just makes them look worse and they are already in side hug hell.

[ZoloftBlob]

My sentiments exactly. Eff 'em. I won't shed Tear One if the network goes down. They had many opportunities to do the right thing and didn't.

 

Exactly This can't have been completely out of the blue for TLC. The rumors have around for ages, and there's absolutely no way the producers and power be didn't have an inkling. Frankly, I would like to see the powers at TLC explain how they cheerfuly displayed a child molester for bucks as an example to America, and also why does TLC consistently promote extremely right wing families?

[fliptopbox]

Stole this from the Gawkr comments.

 

"This is small peanuts compared to what we know now, but it was pretty common knowledge that Josh Duggar frequented strip clubs in Fayetteville when he was 18-19, before he married Anna but after they got they had done more than one Discovery special (I had many friends at UofA at the time, which is where this knowledge comes from). My parents are from Ozarka and have had a few near-encounters with the Duggars, and I get the impression that they are sort of just everywhere in the Springfield/Rogers area nowadays."

 

Wonder how JB & M felt about that? Their precious son's eyes being defrauded by those vile harlot strippers.. Oh, the horror!!! Cos yeah, what male teenager isn't obsessed with seeing naked women? That's what started this whole mess in the first place..

 

Anyway, I am curious to see what other dirt/anecdotes about the Duggars come to light now that this is out in the open. I'm sure Josh's impropriety with his sisters isn't the only creepy thing about them.

[brandyelf]

I know I personally was wondering what Mama June thought.

http://www.thefrisky.com/2015-05-22/mama-june-threatens-to-sue-tlc-for-airing-19-kids-counting-after-duggar-molestation-admission/

[JoanArc]

 

Here's some consolation. Josh is getting bald fast. Not only will he be a fat old man, he'll be a bald AND fat old man. Even God has a sense of humor.

I think with JB, M, and Josh we'll see an 'aged 20 years overnight' happen to their looks. Good.

 

 

My sentiments exactly. Eff 'em. I won't shed Tear One if the network goes down. They had many opportunities to do the right thing and didn't.

If the story has legs, it just might. I hop either scandal will be on every magazine cover. It's a slow weekend. Let it fester.

 

 

This is small peanuts compared to what we know now, but it was pretty common knowledge that Josh Duggar frequented strip clubs in Fayetteville when he was 18-19, before he married Anna but after they got they had done more than one Discovery special

 

Honestly, I'm sure it will come to light that Josh has had sex with a girl Other Than Anna. Either before or after the marriage. He escalated, and escalated, with no real punishment as a teen. That's what happens. It doesn't just stop on it's own.

[truthtalk2014]

Former TLC employees and crew members are encouraged to write Gawker with details of their interactions with the Duggars:  http://defamer.gawker.com/tell-your-duggar-tales-did-michelle-duggar-get-a-gay-c-1706502185

Here is one, where Michelle got a gay crew member fired:

This is literally one of the more interesting stories I have read.  This woman needs to be taken down a few notches - maybe in her bikini.  She is beyond horrible.  

[sandyskyblue]

Since all this hit the fan, I have been reading all the comments on here and I am impressed with the level of knowledge and insight all of you posters have displayed...I, too, wonder about many of things that have been brought up here, especially the ones that relate to the girls: how are they doing, praying that they are not blaming themselves for any of this as none of it was their fault, hoping (against hope, I know) that possibly that there maybe some glimmer of hope that one or more of them can break away from this cult, etc, etc...I also wonder, like the Bill Cosby situation has unfolded, what else may come out now that the dam has been broken....and do we want to know?...my prayers are with the girls...may God bless them and give them strength....

[BitterApple]

Even if they get cancelled by TLC it doesn't mean another network won't pick them up. As callous as it sounds, in six months no one will be thinking about this. They can regroup and continue the show minus Josh.

[becauseIsaidso]

I've never seen any of the Duggar shows, mostly because their worldview, in particular that of relegating women to the category of mindless broodmares, is both abhorrent and disgusting to me, so I had satisfied my curiosity by following this forum.

 

A little while ago, I decided they were not worth even that much notice and unfollowed this forum.

 

It was not until I learned, from a totally unrelated source, about the sexual abuse that has been perpetrated upon the juvenile females of the 'family' that I began following the forum once again.

 

But I was wrong, utterly wrong to give such disgusting and despicable people as the Duggar parents and Josh Duggar even one moment of my time.

 

I sincerely hope the parents and Josh are punished to the full extent of whatever law there may be for whatever crimes they may still be answerable for, although I fear they have conducted themselves in such a manner as to guarantee none of them will have to stand in real earthly judgment for what they have done, and I believe that was deliberately done to protect whomever had a penis.

 

Likewise I fear the females under the control of the parents, as well as those recently married off, will never see one second of justice, of validation, of apology for what they have had to endure. Indeed, I fully expect those females will be expected to bear the full burden of guilt for having forced their poor, perverted brother (and who knows who else, for IMO, the door has been busted wide open on that one) to molest them, and their poor, brain-dead, greedy, narcissistic father to scrambling about to protect his penis-burdened progeny while his scheming partner screams about defaults and Nikes.

 

I live in a state where poverty and ignorance are in abundance, and there are always enough things to face in my real life, to try and /help/fix if I can, or deal with in whatever way I can in good conscience and with the best of intentions to those who seem unable to help themselves, that I cannot see wasting even one more nanosecond  of my life on a couple who has, IMNSHO, clearly, clearly sold their collective souls for the almighty buck.

 

Perhaps the love of money truly IS the root of all evil. In any event, the words 'Duggar', 'amoral' and 'avaricious' will be forever synonymous for me.

 

Goddess bless all of you who have the capacity to be so understanding and forgiving. I think you must be much better people than I can ever hope to be or strive for.

[autumnh]

Oh for goodness sake!

 

Moving forward without Josh is ridiculous..there is no way a person can watch that show (except the fundies) and not think about the horrible act and the victims.

 

http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv/tlc-dropping-josh-duggar-19-kids-report-article-1.2233122?utm_content=bufferdfa8e&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=NYDN+Facebook

 

Just cancel it...especially since Jim Bob & Michelle KNEW what happened and helped to cover it up. I guess I should not be shocked that TLC could care less especially when it means they might lose money.

 

Gah.

Edited May 23, 2015 by autumnh

[BostonBlonde]

IMO there is NO recovery/fixing/rehab for sex offenders. I have not heard of one predator that didn't have MANY victims...usually their entire life's worth. I would NEVER trust him...even with his OWN children, especially his daughters. 

 

Oh for goodness sake!

Moving forward without Josh is ridiculous..there is no way a person can watch that show (except the fundies) and not think about the horrible act and the victims.

http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv/tlc-dropping-josh-duggar-19-kids-report-article-1.2233122?utm_content=bufferdfa8e&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=NYDN+Facebook

Just cancel it...especially since Jim Bob & Michelle KNEW what happened and helped to cover it up. I guess I should not be shocked that TLC could care less especially when it means they might lose money.

Gah.

 

 

AMEN!!! I cant even fathom anyone wanting this on tv...for any reason. 

Edited May 23, 2015 by BostonBlonde

[Ljohnson1987]

Standing behind the Duggars is letting the monster win.

[Wellfleet]

It was well written and I can see that scenario happening , but these people sign confidentially agreements that last a long time. So, while it is my hope this person is the first decent person to climb out of the TLC cesspool.....it could also be made up.        Maybe now that the shit has hit the fan crew and former crew will just let it all out because they know they can now.     If TLC starts suing them, it just makes them look worse and they are already in side hug hell.

 

It could be made up, I suppose. Some would-be screenwriter out there maybe. But darn it, it just SOUNDS so believable, doesn't it? Spot-on perfectly believable. Just like I imagine Me-chelle would talk, overreact etc.

[autumnh]

It also appalls me that even after all of this comes out...that the Duggar family would continue to expose their children to this especially with all of the scrutiny and dissecting that would take place.

 

Horrible, horrible people.

[funky-rat]

I'm still 20 pages back and wading through this, but I wanted to share an interesting article that says what many of us are thinking.  I'm a Reconciling Methodist, and that is who published this.  I wanted to share before I lost the link.  It's not inflammatory or anything - just a very sound viewpoint.

http://www.rmnetwork.org/newrmn/four-double-standards-in-the-duggar-scandal/

[NikSac]

I'm guessing the book was from this series which is very religious. http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/1555130887/ref=pd_aw_sim_14_1?refRID=1X1T48RMHAY4N9SX942Y

 

Ah good find. I was looking but without much luck. So that's probably the book he was reading to the one littlest girl. I suspected just from the police report description that it was for little kids, and looks like that's right - reviewers mention reading it to their 3 and 4 year olds.  I kind of figured Adventure and Princess stories would generally be off limits in Duggar land too, but maybe there are super religious ones I'm just not aware of.

 

I wonder what kind of book that letter was tucked into?

Edited May 23, 2015 by NikSac