Josh & Anna Smuggar: A Series of Unfortunate Events

[Defrauder]

"Viewing pornography over the internet" is the new "inappropriate touching."

 

Masters of understatement, the Duggars.

You said it Churchhoney. That's exactly what's going on.

[Schmoopy]

I'm happy for your family members, but as long as Josh doesn't admit the full extent of his addictions, he's not going to get the help he needs. Christian "counseling" is garbage. He obviously has deep-seated problems that stem all the way back to puberty needing to be addressed. We now know that swinging a hammer and praying for three weeks when he was 15 didn't help. We know taking him to the kiddie porn cop didn't help. Marriage and four kids didn't help. 

 

It's going to take a lot more than he's ever been willing to give to "cast out his demons." 

He admitted to being "unfaithful." That can be read a thousand ways. I would be careful about this; they used that word on purpose to raise such ambiguity. 

To address the passage above that I bolded...

 

I agree with you that they purposely addressed his unfaithfulness in such a way that it could be interpreted many different ways. (If girls come out of the woodwork or pics show up online he can say he admitted it....if nothing more comes out then he will eventually start using verbiage to make it seem as though his internet porn addiction was his sin of unfaithfulness)

 

Now it is my opinion that if Josh truly did not have sexual relations with another woman then he would have DEFINITELY made that crystal clear in his public apology.  Something like...although I have never acted upon my fantasies and have never been unfaithful to my wife I know in my heart that my online behavior was inexcusable and hurtful blah blah blah.

[BitterApple]

Does Ashley Madison have porn on its site? If not, how would a porn addiction explain his address and credit card numbers being stored on a website expressly designed for the purpose of infidelity?

[Adiba]

Wow, I didn't expect Josh to admit anything-- at least not so soon. I mean, really-- he is no longer with the FRC or on TV, why say anything publicly? What he did was not illegal; he could have just confessed to his wife and/or family/ church?

I have no sympathy for Josh, but Anna and the children do have it. Anna is between a rock and a hard place and the kids did nothing to deserve this public humiliation.

[sometimesy]

"Tracy

22 minutes ago

I'm just gonna say this.. I feel so badly for Anna. She only did everything she was supposed to do and it blows up in her face. Someone needs to bend her ear and tell that young woman to cut her ties, write a TELL ALL book and secure her own damn future."

 

I fell bad for Anna as well but, I can't imagine how boring a tell-all from Anna would be. The tell-all I want is from Jinger or Josh.

[GreyBunny]

Wow, I didn't expect Josh to admit anything-- at least not so soon. I mean, really-- he is no longer with the FRC or on TV, why say anything publicly? What he did was not illegal; he could have just confessed to his wife and/or family/ church?

I have no sympathy for Josh, but Anna and the children do have it. Anna is between a rock and a hard place and the kids did nothing to deserve this public humiliation.

Anna married a man who told her he molested girls, his own sisters, one as young as five, and had children with him.  Even if she didn't get the whole story when she married him, she stayed with him with the grisly details became public and she's keeping her own girls in the line of fire of someone with an ongoing, disgusting history.  Anna deserves it.

[BitterApple]

If Boob has reached his limit and cuts the purse strings, a tell-all may be imminent. The older girls likely want nothing to do with Josh (understandably), he was never close to JD or Joe, and is an entire age division above the youngest set of kids. In other words, I don't think there's any ties holding him back, other than maybe Michelle.

JimBob must be losing his shit right now.

Edited August 20, 2015 by BitterApple

[kellylovessnark]

I'm happy for your family members, but as long as Josh doesn't admit the full extent of his addictions, he's not going to get the help he needs. Christian "counseling" is garbage. He obviously has deep-seated problems that stem all the way back to puberty needing to be addressed. We now know that swinging a hammer and praying for three weeks when he was 15 didn't help. We know taking him to the kiddie porn cop didn't help. Marriage and four kids didn't help.

It's going to take a lot more than he's ever been willing to give to "cast out his demons."

He admitted to being "unfaithful." That can be read a thousand ways. I would be careful about this; they used that word on purpose to raise such ambiguity.

True. I am glad that he at least admired instead of trying to cover it up.

[graefin]

Wow, I didn't expect Josh to admit anything-- at least not so soon. I mean, really-- he is no longer with the FRC or on TV, why say anything publicly?

Because he and his family are still holding on to the hope of a life funded by the public.

[Schmoopy]

Because he and his family are still holding on to the hope of a life funded by the public.

 

Or he knows A LOT more shit is about to come out so he is trying to get ahead of the story and spin it the best way he can.

[lulu69]

I give it 2 years before he is on the Christian circuit talking about how Jesus cured him of his problems and helped him become a godly man again.. The healing power of Jesus blah blah blah

Yup....this. I can see it now, Josh falling to his knees & crying bc God's infinite mercy has saved him!!

 

Coming soon to a town near you...snort

Edited August 20, 2015 by lulu69

[floridamom]

Well, I just want to shake my finger at Jim Bob and Michelle. I guess their flavor of "Christianity", ie Gothard Cult Crap doesn't guarantee a perfect outcome for your family, does it? I'm so tired of those two "modestly bragging" about how their way is so much better than the rest of us out here. I bet those two jerks believe that Josh's history is what it is, because they conceived him when they were still living heathen lives, using birth control, and hadn't find Gothard's cult yet...those two need counseling themselves, not GIVING it...

[Rane]

Wow, I didn't expect Josh to admit anything-- at least not so soon. I mean, really-- he is no longer with the FRC or on TV, why say anything publicly? What he did was not illegal; he could have just confessed to his wife and/or family/ church?

Its like ripping off a band-aid - admit your sins quickly, in one pull & hope that the public moves on to the next sensation in a few hours, rather than letting the speculation fester over the weekend. My guess is he's also hoping that he's just the first small fry in a series of revelations about AM clients. Plus JimBoob likely wants this off the event horizon before the TLC special airs (assuming it does on schedule & without the Duggar involvement edited out).

[graefin]

Or he knows A LOT more shit is about to come out so he is trying to get ahead of the story and spin it the best way he can.

Still, why would they care about what the public thinks about them unless they want to maintain their fanbase?

[FakeJoshDuggar]

If you fill the search function on Facebook with joesmithsonnwa@gmail.com, it comes up with an old account with some really interesting "friends."

[yogi2014L]

Anna married a man who told her he molested girls, his own sisters, one as young as five, and had children with him.  Even if she didn't get the whole story when she married him, she stayed with him with the grisly details became public and she's keeping her own girls in the line of fire of someone with an ongoing, disgusting history.  Anna deserves it.

I personally do not believe Anna knew anything about Josh molesting his very young siblings before marriage. I think she learned about it after they had been married,  forgave him and said that to help save his image. I don't think anyone deserves what Anna is going through, other than Jboob , Me Chelle and Josh.

Edited August 20, 2015 by yogi2014L

[DoctorWhovian]

It's just another addition to the list of people who speak out vehemently against homosexuality, infidelity, and other sexual issues that turn out are doing the same or worse. 

 

I think the only thing that is shocking to me is that he actually went through with it. And lol at a "porn addiction." I bet that means "I looked at porn when I masturbated a normal amount for an adult human."

[Iguessnot]

Omg...wowz...holy guacomole.....and Jesus take the wheel!

For godsakes. If these Duggarites allowed their kids to be normal, to date, to go to school, to have friends and sports, music or dance, exposure to the world, etc, the possibilities of Ashley Madison and the sister-molestations would be greatly diminished.

 

Doesn't work that way. I'm sure that Madison site was frequented in greater numbers by folks whose childhoods had no bounds.

 

I'm happy for your family members, but as long as Josh doesn't admit the full extent of his addictions, he's not going to get the help he needs. Christian "counseling" is garbage. He obviously has deep-seated problems that stem all the way back to puberty needing to be addressed. We now know that swinging a hammer and praying for three weeks when he was 15 didn't help. We know taking him to the kiddie porn cop didn't help. Marriage and four kids didn't help. 

 

It's going to take a lot more than he's ever been willing to give to "cast out his demons." 

He admitted to being "unfaithful." That can be read a thousand ways. I would be careful about this; they used that word on purpose to raise such ambiguity. 

 The full extent of his addictions, while juicy sure ain't my business. I have all the info I need to know about his character.

[cheatincheetos]

They cast out Satan!

Nope! Satan built a fortress inside. A pillow fort, the worst kind of all!

[annzeepark914]

Plus JimBoob likely wants this off the event horizon before the TLC special airs (assuming it does on schedule & without the Duggar involvement edited out).

Good grief...TLC needs to end this show completely.  There doesn't need to be any "special" featuring the Duggar family, ever again. M/M JimBob need to invest their time now in taking care of their family issues in private.  You'd think TPTB at TLC would be worried about what (Duggar) shoe will drop next.

[leighdear]

If they had set up paying ads on their website, the traffic there for just today would have gotten new Uggs for all the girls, a crispy new perm for Michelle and a case of anti-antiperspirant for the Jim-Bob flop sweats....

 

And I think at this point, TLC is gonna pull a Subway and disavow any contact whatsoever with this bunch. 

Edited August 20, 2015 by leighdear

[Clemgo3165]

To address the passage above that I bolded...

 

I agree with you that they purposely addressed his unfaithfulness in such a way that it could be interpreted many different ways. (If girls come out of the woodwork or pics show up online he can say he admitted it....if nothing more comes out then he will eventually start using verbiage to make it seem as though his internet porn addiction was his sin of unfaithfulness)

 

Now it is my opinion that if Josh truly did not have sexual relations with another woman then he would have DEFINITELY made that crystal clear in his public apology.  Something like...although I have never acted upon my fantasies and have never been unfaithful to my wife I know in my heart that my online behavior was inexcusable and hurtful blah blah blah.

 

In my mind, signing up for hookups at Ashley Madison is the same as acting on his fantasies. He may not have actually hooked up with anyone, but he took the necessary steps to facilitate one and that's the same to me. Not acting on his fantasies would be keeping them in his own mind and not doing anything to make them happen. Or better yet, enjoying some games of pretend with his own wife. He's a pig, plain and simple.

[MonicaM]

I would feel a lot sorrier for Anna right now if she hadn't defended Josh when it became public knowledge that he molested young girls.  Of course I wouldn't expect her to condemn him, but she could have kept her mouth shut and made no comment.  Instead, she went right along with the family line that no harm was done to anyone and all was well in the world.

 

She doesn't deserve this latest scandal, but I'll have no sympathy for her if the Duggar family decides to take the stance that Josh did nothing to hurt Anna.  She certainly had no sympathy for the females Josh molested.  

[cheatincheetos]

Does Ashley Madison have porn on its site?

If you count members sending x rated selfies to each other.

"The men would join, post a picture of their dick and then call two hours later screaming "why has no one messaged me?!?!?!" The delusion was off the charts. I had to explain at least five times a day that sending women pictures of your dick is literally the WORST first impression you can make. 9 times out of 10 they still didn't get it and would just go upload MORE dick pics."

 

"it's an x-rated site and seeing penises and vaginas 500 times a day became a little unnerving after a few years."

 

www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/3dy732/i_worked_at_ashley_madison_from_20082013_ama/+

[HundFan]

If you google "random guy", that pic he stole is one of the first results.

 

I think Anna should cut Josh's face out of all the family photos and instead put in shots of the "random guy." If you squint - and if you're drunk - he does have a passing resemblance to the gelatinous blob. (At least Josh thought so.) Of course "random guy" is better looking than Josh. But then most men are.

[Schmoopy]

Still, why would they care about what the public thinks about them unless they want to maintain their fanbase?

 

Oh I agree with you, I just think he knows more is coming and he figured the best way to try and keep supporters/ fans is to get out ahead of the story and not let the cover-up become worse than the crime.

[Ilovemylabs]

I'm happy for your family members, but as long as Josh doesn't admit the full extent of his addictions, he's not going to get the help he needs. Christian "counseling" is garbage. He obviously has deep-seated problems that stem all the way back to puberty needing to be addressed. We now know that swinging a hammer and praying for three weeks when he was 15 didn't help. We know taking him to the kiddie porn cop didn't help. Marriage and four kids didn't help. 

 

It's going to take a lot more than he's ever been willing to give to "cast out his demons." 

He admitted to being "unfaithful." That can be read a thousand ways. I would be careful about this; they used that word on purpose to raise such ambiguity.

As far as Josh being unfaithful, he is a fundie and in the Bible Jesus said that if you look with lust on a woman other than your wife, it is the same as adultery (You have committed adultery in your heart).   So that may be what he believes.  I would be careful calling anything an affair with these two.  My other point is that Josh confessed his molestation to his parents long ago when the first incidents occurred. He basically turned himself in.   Had they gotten him the correct help at that time, perhaps none of the rest of this would have occurred.  Still, I believe if he wants to change, with the proper help he can.  I pray that happens for all their sakes.  And I guess it has been said about 100 times before, but being raised in such a repressed household was, IMO, a huge part of all this.  This is just so sad all the way round.  I can't find it in me to rejoice over any of it.  There are too many victims. Edited August 20, 2015 by frenchtoast
fixed double post

[3 is enough]

Another disturbing element no one has mentioned- the Ashley Madison accounts date back to the mold house, when they were living off the car lot profits (and TLC money, I know).  I got the impression things were a bit tight financially for them back then, but he still wasted $$$ on his "secret life"?  

 

Puts me in mind of JB's  disgusting waste of money on the failed senate run while his wife and kids were packed like sardines in a too-small house. Guess the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.

[Churchhoney]

Still, why would they care about what the public thinks about them unless they want to maintain their fanbase?

 

I don't think any of them has a plan B for life outside of having a fanbase, at this point.

[MissT]

Stick a fork in them ---  The Dugger's as we know them are done -- ALL OF THEM!!!!   I agree with previous posters that more will be revealed eventually.    On a personal note, as much as Anna is naive, I feel badly for her and her children and hope that she gets through this.  She may prove us wrong and come out as the strongest person of that family.

[graefin]

I don't think any of them has a plan B for life outside of having a fanbase, at this point.

Makes sense given their arrogance and the fact that they were basically living in poverty before TLC came along.

[frenchtoast]

As far as Josh being unfaithful, he is a fundie and in the Bible Jesus said that if you look with lust on a woman other than your wife, it is the same as adultery (You have committed adultery in your heart).   So that may be what he believes.  I would be careful calling anything an affair with these two.  My other point is that Josh confessed his molestation to his parents long ago when the first incidents occurred. He basically turned himself in.   Had they gotten him the correct help at that time, perhaps none of the rest of this would have occurred.  Still, I believe if he wants to change, with the proper help he can.  I pray that happens for all their sakes.  And I guess it has been said about 100 times before, but being raised in such a repressed household was, IMO, a huge part of all this.  This is just so sad all the way round.  I can't find it in me to rejoice over any of it.  There are too many victims.

It is sad all the way around. And I do feel bad for many of them, even Josh a little. I sure wouldn't my failings as a human being splashed around. He made himself as much as he could a public figure, but I don't really feel happy that people are hurt over this. Because when it comes down to it, sadly there are adulterers out there, and they hurt lots of people. Molester harm others too. All of it is sad. I hope that maybe some good can come out of it. Some one will find the strength to remove themselves from a harmful situation or something. At least make it easier to talk about or something.

[floridamom]

My opinion at this time is this; I don't think that Anna owed us any statement with this new information coming to light, but I am curious to see what it is that she does now.

[AudreyHorne]

I think Josh has a chance to do something none of the other Duggars do. I think he should seize the opportunity to let it all go. All of the judging of others. All of the weird superstition they call religion. All of the worrying over what others are doing. All of the scrutiny and hypocrisy.

Since he has nothing left to lose, he might as well figure out who he actually is and lead a humble and honest life. The truth really does set you free.

All of his siblings will be caught in the Duggar PR machine and who knows what BS they are being told?

Josh should estrange himself from his dad, figure out what to do about his marriage and use these experiences to raise his kids in a less rigid, ignorant and judgmental fashion.

Or... He could write the trashy tell all. Either way, the jig of reforming his image to what he used to "believe" is up.

[Schmoopy]

I wonder if Josh dick pics are coming next?!?!?!?!

 

[Fosca]

The statement got edited again: no more porn addiction, straight-out saying he was "unfaithful":

 

I have been the biggest hypocrite ever. While espousing faith and family values, I have been unfaithful to my wife.

I am so ashamed of the double life that I have been living and am grieved for the hurt, pain and disgrace my sin has caused my wife and family, and most of all Jesus and all those who profess faith in Him.

I have brought hurt and a reproach to my family, close friends and the fans of our show with my actions.

The last few years, while publicly stating I was fighting against immorality in our country I was hiding my own personal failures.

As I am learning the hard way, we have the freedom to choose our actions, but we do not get to choose our consequences. I deeply regret all the hurt I have caused so many by being such a bad example.

I humbly ask for your forgiveness. Please pray for my precious wife Anna and our family during this time.

Josh Duggar

[Anne Elk]

What's with the editing? What do they think they're achieving with that?

 

If any good can come out of this, I hope it will be that all the young women who watched this show and were attracted to their Gothard lifestyle will think very hard about what it means. Because yes, if you give all control of your life over to a man you barely know, it's not all happy babies and love of Jesus happily ever after. Sometimes you end up like Anna.

[graefin]

Perhaps this was Josh's way of fulfilling his sexual needs without adding to his quiver? He and Anna are not "allowed" to use birth control, but I assume his dalliances would have?

[Ljohnson1987]

I hope Anna doesn't convince Josh to have another baby to try and save their marriage. Bringing another innocent baby into this mess, will do nothing to fix what's already happened. Anna needs real counseling, and to be able to make the choice about whether or not she wants to stay with this scum bag.

[OhioMom]

He adds this too

 

 

which I think is admission that he did have sex with someone else (presumably via the AM site), but he's trying to bury it within the statement & use the pornography addiction as an excuse/distraction.

I took that part to mean, "I was unfaithful to my wife through internet porn addiction...etc."  As...something he could say, and then backpedal his way out of, if the fire got too hot.

 

Either he will not admit to having an actual, skin on skin affair, or he didn't have one. 

Edited August 20, 2015 by OhioMom

[Flowers]

"As far as Josh being unfaithful, he is a fundie and in the Bible Jesus said that if you look with lust on a woman other than your wife, it is the same as adultery (You have committed adultery in your heart). So that may be what he believes. I would be careful calling anything an affair with these two."

Two years on Ashley Madison = 99.99% chance that we aren't just talking lustful looks here.

[wirebitersm]

I like porn too but there's so much of it free on the internet. And if I was going to pay for porn, I wouldn't go through the trouble of joining AM and setting up a profile.

[HeyNow]

I dunno, I think in their world Anna might see this (eventually) as a test of her faith.  She might compare it to being tested like Job, with the "God won't give me anything I can't handle" thrown in.  Even to martyrdom.  As far as Josh's ongoing statement revision, narcissists are all about the image, and they can be pretty impulsive.  I feel so badly for all of the innocent children.

[OhioMom]

I think Josh has a chance to do something none of the other Duggars do. I think he should seize the opportunity to let it all go. All of the judging of others. All of the weird superstition they call religion. All of the worrying over what others are doing. All of the scrutiny and hypocrisy.

Since he has nothing left to lose, he might as well figure out who he actually is and lead a humble and honest life. The truth really does set you free.

All of his siblings will be caught in the Duggar PR machine and who knows what BS they are being told?

Josh should estrange himself from his dad, figure out what to do about his marriage and use these experiences to raise his kids in a less rigid, ignorant and judgmental fashion.

Or... He could write the trashy tell all. Either way, the jig of reforming his image to what he used to "believe" is up.

This could be a turning point for Josh.  I've met a lot of "real" (true) Christians who had to hit absolute rock bottom and then find their way back to a better life.  Maybe this is his rock bottom.  Time will tell.

 

I feel for Anna to a point.  If she didn't know what was going on before, she does now.  Let's see where that goes.

 

And I've never been a Kathie Lee fan, but of her husband's own infidelity, she is reported to have said once, "Someone told me, if I couldn't forgive my husband, I should forgive my children's father."  Not saying she should forgive him; not saying she shouldn't.  Only saying that there are many, many different things to consider, and many people, including 4 children, who will be affected by the fallout.  Does anyone know what Josh's net worth is?  (Is it anything??!!) If Anna were to divorce  him, could she expect any type of $$ settlement?  Unless she writes the tell all, it's hard being a single parent to 4 kids, with no education and/or job.

Edited August 20, 2015 by OhioMom

[Defrauder]

I hope Anna leaves him now while she is still young and somewhat strong.  Believe me 20 years from now she may be so worn out and emotionally abused from a possible ongoing infidelity that she may not have the strength to leave.  It would be sad if in 20 years from now she looked back and said to herself, he never changed he's a pathological liar and I wish I left 20 years ago. Especially if her children are forever caught up in his double life apology over and over again.  She and her children would be better off away from that kind of hurtful and damaging lifestyle no matter how she has to get away.

[Rhetorica]

Jesus wept...

[Churchhoney]

Either way, the jig of reforming his image to what he used to "believe" is up.

 

Seems clear this is true. But I'm thinking he may be stupid and arrogant enough not to realize it.

[Lesia]

He's only ashamed because he got caught.

 

this is what happens with religious mandates combined with  suppression of sexuality: they go overboard, because they had to do without for so long, that the impulses are overwhelming and they seek it in inappropriate places. Happens all the time.

[Defrauder]

The statement got edited again: no more porn addiction, straight-out saying he was "unfaithful":

 

I have been the biggest hypocrite ever. While espousing faith and family values, I have been unfaithful to my wife.

I am so ashamed of the double life that I have been living and am grieved for the hurt, pain and disgrace my sin has caused my wife and family, and most of all Jesus and all those who profess faith in Him.

I have brought hurt and a reproach to my family, close friends and the fans of our show with my actions.

The last few years, while publicly stating I was fighting against immorality in our country I was hiding my own personal failures.

As I am learning the hard way, we have the freedom to choose our actions, but we do not get to choose our consequences. I deeply regret all the hurt I have caused so many by being such a bad example.

I humbly ask for your forgiveness. Please pray for my precious wife Anna and our family during this time.

Josh Duggar

Another version of the apology?  

Version 1.  I was addicted to porn online and became unfaithful.....

Version 2.  I have been unfaithful to my wife.

 

Can we have a version 3 Josh?  I'll write it for you. It will start with - I AM the biggest hypocrite ever.  The ending will ask for prayers for his precious wife Anna, the wife he did not consider 'precious' when he was cheating on her for the last several years of course.

[Marigny]

The writers are probably feverishly working on the Law & Order: SVU episode this very minute.

 

Coming to Lifetime Movie Network in the fall...

 

 

 

I don't know about anyone else here but if my husband spent close to a thousand dollars trying to cheat on me but didn't actually do it, I would still think he was a scumbag piece of shit and his belongings would be on the lawn by sundown.