Josh & Anna Smuggar: A Series of Unfortunate Events

[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.

 

[camom]

I think the reference to being "unfaithful" to his wife definitely means a physical affair.  Otherwise he would have pulled a Jimmy Carter and said that he had lusted in his heart.  

[Defrauder]

Jesus wept...

Maybe in this case he celebrated the liar being exposed.

[CherryMalotte]

Jesus wept...

 

And then laughed his ass off.   

[HundFan]

Same old same old. Josh issues a statement written by a PR team (and live-edited on an ongoing basis, no less!) yet again without standing up like a real man to face cameras and take questions. Same as his mea minima culpa re the molestations. Boob and MEchelle really don't trust that boy to untangle his own knots, do they? Josh is still shaking and hiding in the folds of MEchelle's denim skirt, waiting for someone else to mop up the puddle he just made on the floor. 

[riverblue22]

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.

 But you left out the original "satan's fortress" version.  So we have already had three versions, now waiting for the fourth.

[Anne Elk]

Josh isn't a man that met a woman he was attracted to and had an affair. He has demonstrated that he has not been able to control his sexual impulses since he was 14, no matter how bad they were. In my opinion, there is an ick factor to this that goes way beyond a man cheating on his wife. At this point we know about child molesting, porn addiction, and adultery. That is quite a list. What is going to come out next?

Yes, Josh has got a really big problem. His parents have known this ever since he was a teen but haven't wanted to admit it and risk not being considered the Parents of the Millenium. Well, their denial came back to bite them in the ass big time. Will the Duggars bite the bullet now and try to get him some real help, or will they just tell him to pray even harder? 

[CofCinci]

Jesus wept...

No. He's laughing.

Why do they keep editing the statement? This isn't remedial college composition where the professor will let you try 3 times to get it right. You think they would have learned that once something is on the Internet, it's always on the Internet.

Edited August 20, 2015 by CofCinci

[HundFan]

http://radaronline.com/celebrity-news/josh-duggar-cheating-scandal-friends-arkansas-strippers-facebook/

 

ROL says Josh's fake Facebook page - the one where Josh poses as the "random guy" - had him as friends with several local Arkansas strippers. I saw this on that page last night, but didn't realize it was news (it seemed so in keeping with everything he's doing these days). Not at all surprising, in any case. New venue, but wash rinse repeat as before. As Maya Anjelou says: When people show you who they are, believe them.

[Rane]

Jesus wept...

 

 

tears of joy....

 

In other news:

 

Mrs. Betty Bowers (from her Facebook):

"GOOD NEWS: Josh Duggar is now fondling adults. BAD NEWS: They aren't his wife. NOT NEWS AT ALL: He’s a Professional Christian™ who got paid by the Family Research Council to pompously critique the morality of all Americans. Proving, once again, that perverts make the very best scolds."

 

Also, kudos to the PR person who finally figured out that a reminder of Joshy's teenage malfaisance was not a good thing to include in the statement, as it just reminded everyone what a piece of scum we already knew he was, and this was just re-confirmation of that fact.

[Defrauder]

 But you left out the original "satan's fortress" version.  So we have already had three versions, now waiting for the fourth.

You're right - I forgot the Satan version.  So hard to keep track.  OK so Satan's out now after version 1.  Version 2. is the online porn addiction version, and Version 3 is thIe straight out I've been unfaithful version.  We need a Josh apology version mix put to music somehow.

[Maharincess]

I'm actually shocked, I really thought their strategy for this would be deny, deny, deny. I can't believe the little weasel actually admitted it.

How much of this shit is Anna expected to take? Is nobody telling her that she has options?

[CofCinci]

Is nobody telling her that she has options?

In their eyes she has no options but to stay by his side "keeping sweet" and he continues to humiliate her.

Edited August 20, 2015 by CofCinci

[Misslindsey]

If Josh did have an affair and he might have if not through Ashley Madison, probably through some other site/app/met someone, who would really want to admit to having sex with Josh Duggar? Well, besides Anna and I hope she is rethinking that right now.

[Defrauder]

I wonder how many version apologies Anna is getting right now.  It was Satan, Anna.  OK no it wasn't Satan, it was an online porn addiction.  OK well it was more than that it was unfaithfulness, yes an affair.

 

How many Josh?

[Missy Vixen]

Josh isn't a man that met a woman he was attracted to and had an affair. He has demonstrated that he has not been able to control his sexual impulses since he was 14, no matter how bad they were. In my opinion, there is an ick factor to this that goes way beyond a man cheating on his wife. At this point we know about child molesting, porn addiction, and adultery. That is quite a list. What is going to come out next?

Bisexuality, which would make Jim Boob and J-Chelle disown him.

 

IMHO of course.

[whydoiwatch]

WHO is Josh's statement meant for ?  (Ma and Pa Duggar's statement is questionable too) I don't get who he is apologizing to. I get that the family had some pseudo celebrity status and supposedly many viewed their "reality" show, but that gig is up. For those of us who were suspect of their perceived superiority all along, coming here to enjoy the snark is one thing but does Josh honestly think he has such a following that he needs to apologize to them?

The ambiguous public statement just reinforces his arrogance as I see it. Does he not yet know how ignorant he is? Can he not yet see the level of his entitled attitude? If not, he has not yet hit rock bottom. I doubt this is the end of the story.

[CofCinci]

WHO is Josh's statement meant for ? (Ma and Pa Duggar's statement is questionable too) I don't get who he is apologizing to. I get that the family had some pseudo celebrity status and supposedly many viewed their "reality" show, but that gig is up. For those of us who were suspect of their perceived superiority all along, coming here to enjoy the snark is one thing but does Josh honestly think he has such a following that he needs to apologize to them?

The ambiguous public statement just reinforces his arrogance as I see it. Does he not yet know how ignorant he is? Can he not yet see the level of his entitled attitude? If not, he has not yet hit rock bottom. I doubt this is the end of the story.

He's apologizing to Mike Huckabee and Kirk Cameron.

[Defrauder]

But Anna I didn't curse during committing adultery I swear.

[subber]

I suspect the admission of infidelity was a preemptive move in advance of what used to be known in the political world as "bimbo eruptions" -- a parade of women coming forth to cash in on their trysts with Doughboy. Chances are some of the women had no idea until yesterday who they were between the sheets with. Now they do.

Josh is just trying to get ahead of the story and control the narrative. Any married women he was with are less likely to make themselves known. But unmarried ones or any who were paid for the privilege might just be cutting deals with any number of media outlets very soon. Josh really stepped in a huge cowpie this time.

Edited August 20, 2015 by subber

[Joe Jitsu913]

Josh isn't a man that met a woman he was attracted to and had an affair. He has demonstrated that he has not been able to control his sexual impulses since he was 14, no matter how bad they were. In my opinion, there is an ick factor to this that goes way beyond a man cheating on his wife. At this point we know about child molesting, porn addiction, and adultery. That is quite a list. What is going to come out next?

Josh has an illegitimate bi-racial child with an atheist porn star? At least... that's what I'm hoping for.

[CofCinci]

Josh has an illegitimate bi-racial child with an atheist porn star? At least... that's what I'm hoping for.

And she's on welfare because Josh won't pay child support.

[Adiba]

In their eyes she has no options but to stay by his side "keeping sweet" and he continues to humiliate her.

That's why I can't help feeling some compassion for her ( even though I do not share many if not most of her beliefs). Who is she going to go to for support if she wanted to leave? Her parents? Her sister who is married to Waller? Certainly not any of the Duggars.

[Missy Vixen]

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

 

Best. GIF. EVER.

And you know those dick pics are coming. We won't be able to get away from Smuggar's dick pics. Well, at least until Jim Boob's dick pics are unearthed.

 

:tries to look innocent, whistles a happy tune:

[Defrauder]

Anna is entitled to child support and alimony if she divorces.  She's not chained to this rotten egg.

[VoteForSummer]

I just came from reading a lengthy Facebook post/replies from a guy (never heard of him) who wrote that he defended Josh over the molestation but now that the new scandal has arrived he feels he was wrong. A lot of fundie defenders in the comments but there are definitely a number who feel that molestation was bad, but forgiveable, yet porn and adultery is just going way too far. First I'm disturbed that this seems to be how they prioritize these sins (but it seems to be that they are upset over the fact that he hasn't repented from the molestation after all) but it was interesting to note the number of Christians speaking out against Josh. Definitely detected a turning tide...

I also noticed a large number of comments (a few on this board as well) regarding Josh's "sex addiction" and need for rehab. I'm a recovering alcoholic myself so I have no question that many people suffer from this, I'm just not sure that's a cut and dried diagnosis. No snark - wondering what's the basis for this conclusion from so many people. Isn't it possible he's "just" an adulterous scumbag who jerks off to porn?

[CofCinci]

Anna is entitled to child support and alimony if she divorces. She's not chained to this rotten egg.

JB is very sharp about how the family assets are invested. What assets are actually in Josh and Anna's name? The house they're renovating now, I think. JB can quickly close the purse strings and hurt Anna financially (as she waits for court process for support).

[OhioMom]

Anna is entitled to child support and alimony if she divorces.  She's not chained to this rotten egg.

But if he's  not working....what's she going to get?  Unless there's a tidy nest egg somewhere.

[Darknight]

If Josh had an affair I hope he used protection. Unfortunately he lacks logic skills. I don't care if he watched porn. It's normal to watch porn. If he wants to fuck other people and experiment, he should divorce Anna and go out and experiment.