Josh & Anna Smuggar: A Series of Unfortunate Events

[becca3891]

57 minutes ago, GeeGolly said:

I realize that Josh was on this trip, but that photo of them all sitting down for lunch emphasizes Ben being that husband. No matter where Jessa goes he always seems to be there.

@Bridget, Chip and Jo share very similar beliefs to the Duggars with some modern adaptations, they just keep their judgmental side on the down low. Jo's sister was on an episode and her family, other than the husband having a decent income, could have passed as a Duggar family.

Excellent point. It can't be stressed enough that pants wearing does not absolve people from being fundie. Chip and Joanna have been very careful to avoid making any controversial remarks, so as not to hurt their profits, but they belong to a bible literalist church which denounces same sex marriage.

[Marshmallow Mollie]

3 hours ago, Sew Sumi said:

Smuggars and kids also spotted at Magnolia, as were many other Duggars, including I Do Nothing Mechelle. Scuzi for the pic of Smuggar. 

In the first picture, we have Anna wearing a puffy sleeve shirt, which is on trend, both of the boys in collared shirts, and Mac and Meredith (as much as we can see of her) look pressed and polished.

......and then we have Josh. Crocs. T shirt. Hat. Unshaven face. 

[BitterApple]

6 hours ago, GeeGolly said:

I realize that Josh was on this trip, but that photo of them all sitting down for lunch emphasizes Ben being that husband. No matter where Jessa goes he always seems to be there.

Right? He's like the male version of Jill. Wasn't there another instance of a girls' trip to Waco and he was tagging along?

[graefin]

6 hours ago, GeeGolly said:

 

@Bridget, Chip and Jo share very similar beliefs to the Duggars with some modern adaptations, they just keep their judgmental side on the down low. Jo's sister was on an episode and her family, other than the husband having a decent income, could have passed as a Duggar family.

Also similar to the Duggars, according to well-known gossip sites, the Gaineses haven't some significant skeletons in their closet (which in fact led to the demise of their show). ?

Edited April 9, 2018 by graefin

[Barb23]

49 minutes ago, BitterApple said:

Right? He's like the male version of Jill. Wasn't there another instance of a girls' trip to Waco and he was tagging along?

Yep, we've been discussing those pictures in another thread- could be the Seewalds or Josiah's.

Love how MEchelle is pictured holding a baby in the lunch  photo.  I'm surprised still remembers how. BTW, who is the girl at the end of the table next to Laura?

Edited April 9, 2018 by Barb23

[lilwhitelion]

That’s Anna next to Jana. 

 Anyone else see how Jenny’s (?) little pooch stomach in the picture outside makes her look 5 months pregnant?  It’s kind of freaking me out!

[louannems]

Little Jenni has had the prepubescent chub for awhile.  My own daughter gained a lot of weight just before puberty, too.

[DangerousMinds]

IIRC, Joanna Gaines is also quite educated and experienced in her chosen field, unlike any of the Duggars. Despite their being fundie, I think they're likely appalled at anyone thinking the Duggars were ambassadors for their work.

[Westiepeach]

1 hour ago, Barb23 said:

Yep, we've been discussing those pictures in another thread- could be the Seewalds or Josiah's.

Love how MEchelle is pictured holding a baby in the lunch  photo.  I'm surprised still remembers how. BTW, who is the girl at the end of the table next to Laura?

She is showing us all just how much she loves her grandbabies. You know, little what's-his-name here.

Also, why is MEchelle showing us her plate of food?

[cdp73]

2 minutes ago, Westiepeach said:

Also, why is MEchelle showing us her plate of food?

It has something green on it and she wants us to tell her what it is.

[bigskygirl]

Ben take off your hat inside. Michelle and Anna look like the models for Frump City. Josh looks like a creep. Some things never change.

[3 is enough]

I see they brought Peter Pan...oops...Jackson along.  Still lumped with the younger kids even though he is almost 14.

Who is the boy with the unfortunate haircut holding the green ball?

Edited April 9, 2018 by 3 is enough

[Sew Sumi]

Tyler.

[OpieTaylor]

7 hours ago, Marshmallow Mollie said:

In the first picture, we have Anna wearing a puffy sleeve shirt, which is on trend, both of the boys in collared shirts, and Mac and Meredith (as much as we can see of her) look pressed and polished.

......and then we have Josh. Crocs. T shirt. Hat. Unshaven face. 

Who is the little girl in the stroller on the left? Josie? I hope Josie's not still riding in a stroller!

ETA: Oh, it's probably Meredith. If so, she's looking older and slimmer.  I don't actually see Josie in any of these photos - what a nice change!

Edited April 9, 2018 by OpieTaylor

[lilwhitelion]

57 minutes ago, cdp73 said:

It has something green on it and she wants us to tell her what it is.

I think it's avocado toast.  Jesse posted a 'story' on instagram showing her plate with avocado toast at Magnolia.  Literally the easiest thing to make at home, so why is it special enough to post from a restaurant?

[louannems]

Avocado toast doesn't come pre-made, in a box.  They would half to peel and mush them themselves.  Too much work even though they have way too many kids sitting around.

[BitterApple]

For shits and giggles I looked up the Magnolia Table menu and that avocado toast is $8!!! You can also add a poached egg for $1.50, lol. I have to admit though, based on the pictures I saw on Yelp, their food looks really good.

Edited April 9, 2018 by BitterApple

[Sew Sumi]

The Gainses are laughing all the way to the bank.

[madpsych78]

I didn't see Marcus in any of the pictures. 

[dargosmydaddy]

Could that be him in the 2nd photo? Little boy with the day-glo green sneakers, hiding his face with a beanbag?

[madpsych78]

3 minutes ago, dargosmydaddy said:

Could that be him in the 2nd photo? Little boy with the day-glo green sneakers, hiding his face with a beanbag?

Ah! I think you're right.

[lookeyloo]

15 hours ago, becca3891 said:

Excellent point. It can't be stressed enough that pants wearing does not absolve people from being fundie. Chip and Joanna have been very careful to avoid making any controversial remarks, so as not to hurt their profits, but they belong to a bible literalist church which denounces same sex marriage.

Which, being totally accepting of same sex relationships/marriage, etc and being the proud mama of a gay son which made his coming out a non issue in our family, I have stopped watching chip and JoJo.  I also don't eat at chik fil A or shop at Hobby Lobby. But that is my personal decision and I usually keep it to myself. 

[Heathen]

7 hours ago, Sew Sumi said:

The Gainses are laughing all the way to the bank.

They can't disappear soon enough for me. They're just bigots in candy coating. 

Topic: Anna is developing a Mullet-type figure. It's especially striking because both she and Smuggar were so thin when they married. 

[Barb23]

Poor Mason, he really has inherited the huge Duggar head (looking at the picture of him & Mack.)  I can't imagine what Anna went through giving birth to him.  Luckily she's stretched out from her previous pregnancies. 

[mimionthebeach]

On 2018-04-01 at 10:45 AM, Lady Edith said:

I find what Josh did to be reprehensible.  And there is something I’ve been thinking about since the whole Joshley Madison thing came out...Josh has been told what to do and how to act his entire life.  His life was and is very very controlled, even as an adult.  He was punished for totally normal things...natural urges...and he probably was and still is very confused. With the reports of his “tastes” leaning toward the rough or punishing, he may see having relations with “dirty” women as punishing them in his twisted way.  Giving to them the “punishment” he received throughout his life for completely normal things...God-given urges, as they are.  So I’m thinking (not justifying) his actions as being he is taking his frustrations out on the other women.  He can’t do that to Anna, or he tried and she put a stop to it.  So he probably went outside of their marriage to do what he felt he needed to to reconcile his feelings.  

Sexual repression is a horrible thing.  Especially when the urges this group repress are natural. It leads to all sorts of nastiness such as the abuses and assaults the Duggar girls experienced and are seen as “common” in their twisted circles.

God gave us a strong sexuality for a reason...you can’t tell a teen that his self-exploration and premarital sexual urges (fulfilled or not) are a sin then expect them to jump into a normal marriage and sexual relationship just because they are pronounced a husband.  Sorry, there’s no magic switch that changes things instantaneously.  I blame this cracked belief for many of Josh’s actions.  Yes, he SHOULD know better, but a lifetime of brainwashing is hard to overcome.  Especially when it’s still perpetuated as the only right way to live into and through adulthood.  Again, not justifying...merely hypothesizing.

Sounds like the back story for a Criminal Minds episode.

[FakeJoshDuggar]

On 4/10/2018 at 2:42 AM, Heathen said:

They can't disappear soon enough for me. They're just bigots in candy coating. 

Topic: Anna is developing a Mullet-type figure. It's especially striking because both she and Smuggar were so thin when they married. 

Too late. I was at Target and I saw they have a line of home goods. 

 

Is a trip to the Gainses like a fundy pilgrimage now? Enquiring minds want to know. 

[Christina87]

On 4/9/2018 at 5:35 AM, becca3891 said:

Excellent point. It can't be stressed enough that pants wearing does not absolve people from being fundie. Chip and Joanna have been very careful to avoid making any controversial remarks, so as not to hurt their profits, but they belong to a bible literalist church which denounces same sex marriage.

Some mainstream churches technically are against gay marriage, so I guess they could be mainstream and just conservative Christians, but Joanna's sister being duggar-esque probably means they are fundie. I'm united Methodist, and technically our church doctrine says that homosexuality in any form is wrong. Most of the people I know from our denomination, including myself, are fine with it, and I know many, many methodists who are extremely liberal (went to a liberal university and was in a Methodist group, and many of the most liberal I know went on to Duke divinity to become pastors!). However, a large segment of our denomination is in Africa, and they vote consistently to keep it in our church doctrine. So technically a church can be against homosexuality on paper, but have a majority of members who are fine with it, and many more who are gay or extremely, extremely liberal! However, our pastor NEVER preaches on it, and I have never heard another Methodist pastor do so. I'd imagine fundie churches probably talk about how wrong it is until they're blue in the face!

it's weird how fundies, even close to he level of the duggars, exist everywhere. I knew a girl in college who wore a long denim skirt and polo every day, with long, permed hair. She was the oldest of 10+ kids, and was a piano major. When we would have to read anything about sinning in class, she would decline to read it and ask for another assignment. I thought she was just weird and uptight, but now I know she HAD to be into gothardism, and it makes perfect sense!!! There are also thee girls at my apartment complex who look just like Jenni, and I know they are homeschooled because I see them around during the day when I'm home sick. Whenever I try to print something in the business center, there are always like 20 pages of homeschool stuff that prints first. They are just like the duggars, happy to use amenities that they don't have to pay for, and too lazy to reload the machine with paper so they can actually get their work!

[Loves2Dance]

On 4/9/2018 at 3:52 AM, Bridget said:

I'd love to know what/if Chip and Joanna even think about the Duggars essentially acting as unofficial spokespeople for everything Magnolia.

I keep waiting for a cease and desist letter to arrive from the Gaines' attorney to them all, except for Jana. 

How great would it be if Jana was the only one allowed in the shop? What a reward for being stuck as CinderJana!

I've only seen 10 minutes of their show, but I do know what shiplap is and what their general aesthetic is when it comes to decorating. I like Joanna's style, but I get really nervous at the idea of so much white... and it's just me living in my place!

The Gaines' religion isn't much different from the Duggars and they have some not so great backstory and business practices---they may be the cute mainstream HGTV family, but they will eventually fall from Grace. And when that happens, it'll be worse than Josh Duggar two scandals combined, imo. 

[Bridget]

2 hours ago, Loves2Dance said:

The Gaines' religion isn't much different from the Duggars and they have some not so great backstory and business practices---they may be the cute mainstream HGTV family, but they will eventually fall from Grace. And when that happens, it'll be worse than Josh Duggar two scandals combined, imo. 

I believe you - I promise!

Interestingly enough, I’ve been binge watching their show on Hulu (am remodeling next month & am looking for color palette ideas without going down the Pinterest rabbit hole...yet) and now that I know what I know (I swear I was living under one huge rock!), all I can hear are the words “special” or “encouraging”!  Even the way Jo speaks to Chip (and vice versa), there’s some passive aggressive/weird helpmeet behavior going on. (Or maybe it’s just me because I’m now aware of it.)

It’s like when you buy a car and now everyone on the road has the same car you do. 

[Heathen]

Besides the recent lawsuit over a shady-ass business sale and their abhorrent belief system, what else is in the Gaineses' backstory? 

Topic: Smuggar and Ofsmuggar do make some cute kids.

[Christina87]

4 hours ago, Loves2Dance said:

The Gaines' religion isn't much different from the Duggars and they have some not so great backstory and business practices---they may be the cute mainstream HGTV family, but they will eventually fall from Grace. And when that happens, it'll be worse than Josh Duggar two scandals combined, imo. 

Ok now I am curious, lol! Don't spill if you feel uncomfortable...I'll wait until it surfaces, haha. 

[Zella]

I'm dying of curiosity about this too. 

[Fuzzysox]

Is Anna wearing a puffy shirt or is it a maternity top? Isn't it time for her to be announcing another blessing?

[Loves2Dance]

Beyond the lawsuit, there are two big things that I feel comfortable talking about because they're pretty common knowledge in the right circles. 

It's not uncommon for Jo to meet with artists, gush over their work, 'consider' carrying them in the shop and then mysteriously the deal doesn't pan out, but similar artwork shows up a few months later. The pieces have just enough difference where there isn't much the artist can do, but it's become a pattern that is being noticed. 

Next, during their 30 Houses and 30 Days, they hired contractors from all over Texas---a lot of family owned, small companies who can't afford to not be paid. When all the work was said and done, they didn't pay them. In some cases, the payments took so long businesses folded. 

And this is just the tip with those two...

[Heathen]

1 hour ago, Fuzzysox said:

Is Anna wearing a puffy shirt or is it a maternity top? Isn't it time for her to be announcing another blessing?

Not yet. All her kids are about two years apart. Mason was born in September, so if her pattern continues, she's got some time to go before the next announcement. 

[Heathen]

1 hour ago, Loves2Dance said:

Beyond the lawsuit, there are two big things that I feel comfortable talking about because they're pretty common knowledge in the right circles. 

It's not uncommon for Jo to meet with artists, gush over their work, 'consider' carrying them in the shop and then mysteriously the deal doesn't pan out, but similar artwork shows up a few months later. The pieces have just enough difference where there isn't much the artist can do, but it's become a pattern that is being noticed. 

Next, during their 30 Houses and 30 Days, they hired contractors from all over Texas---a lot of family owned, small companies who can't afford to not be paid. When all the work was said and done, they didn't pay them. In some cases, the payments took so long businesses folded. 

And this is just the tip with those two...

Can you provide links so we can read more about it? I'd like to have some ammunition, so to speak, when people rave about the Gaineses. 

Topic: The Duggars lack taste, so not surprising they go for mass-market rehashes. 

[Loves2Dance]

10 minutes ago, Heathen said:

Can you provide links so we can read more about it? I'd like to have some ammunition, so to speak, when people rave about the Gaineses. 

Topic: The Duggars lack taste, so not surprising they go for mass-market rehashes. 

Details about the lawsuit are everywhere---the other two haven't been reported on nationally (that I know of). 

To stay on topic: The Duggar's do lack taste and Magnolia is nothing to write home about. Overpriced food and decor, but it's the ultimate tourist trap. And they're not the only Fundie family visiting lately---the Bates were there not long ago.

Expect the next major anti-Gaines media wave to be around May 6th-ish...they are planning a HUGE race event in Waco that is going to be nothing but a hot mess. The running community is small and feisty and not very forgiving. 

[becca3891]

7 hours ago, Christina87 said:

Some mainstream churches technically are against gay marriage, so I guess they could be mainstream and just conservative Christians, but Joanna's sister being duggar-esque probably means they are fundie. I'm united Methodist, and technically our church doctrine says that homosexuality in any form is wrong. Most of the people I know from our denomination, including myself, are fine with it, and I know many, many methodists who are extremely liberal (went to a liberal university and was in a Methodist group, and many of the most liberal I know went on to Duke divinity to become pastors!). However, a large segment of our denomination is in Africa, and they vote consistently to keep it in our church doctrine. So technically a church can be against homosexuality on paper, but have a majority of members who are fine with it, and many more who are gay or extremely, extremely liberal! However, our pastor NEVER preaches on it, and I have never heard another Methodist pastor do so. I'd imagine fundie churches probably talk about how wrong it is until they're blue in the face!

Definitely not the case here. I know many United Methodists, and my  understanding is that you don't tend to hear sermons about the ability to become straight if you pray hard enough, or the notion that wives must submit to their husbands. That is the belief system of the church the Gainses attend. United Methodists also don't obsess about 100 percent of the bible being literally true and a guidebook in 2018. Again, the Gainses' church does. Equally troubling, the pastor has denied the existence of mental illness and called it demon possession. It sounds just as scary as the wacko churches I grew up in and that the Duggars and their ilk attend. This is from my linked article: 

One former member claims she was kicked out of the church after being diagnosed with schizophrenia. The reason why? Church leaders thought she was “possessed by a demon.” Jimmy Seibert told the publication that the church doesn’t use the term “exorcism.” But it does recognize “demonic oppression.” According to Seibert, “It happens to people who have been through a tough time and have not submitted their lives to God, and darkness has a place in their lives.”

https://www.cheatsheet.com/culture/new-details-about-chip-and-joanna-gaines-church-will-shock-you.html/?a=viewall

This is from the church's website. Pretty standard for fundy, bible literalist churches. A wife is to submit herself graciously to the servant leadership of her husband, even as the church willingly submits to the headship of Christ. She, being in the image of God, as is her husband, and thus equal to him, has the God-given responsibility to respect her husband and to serve as his companion in managing the household and nurturing the next generation. Children, from the moment of conception, are a blessing and gift from the Lord.

1 hour ago, Heathen said:

Not yet. All her kids are about two years apart. Mason was born in September, so if her pattern continues, she's got some time to go before the next announcement. 

Good point! Michelle seemed to be one of the women who begins ovulating very quickly, even when breastfeeding. Anna seems not to, and she will probably end up with a similar number of children that her mom had -- 9. Maybe a few more. That is, assuming Josh doesn't start turning down sweet fellowship in favor of Ashley Madison and porn stars again. 

Edited April 12, 2018 by becca3891

[FakeJoshDuggar]

3 minutes ago, becca3891 said:

According to Seibert, “It happens to people who have been through a tough time and have not submitted their lives to God, and darkness has a place in their lives.”

 

That’s some medieval bullshit right there. 

[becca3891]

1 minute ago, FakeJoshDuggar said:

That’s some medieval bullshit right there. 

Sure is. And there are probably people lucky enough not to have grown up fundy who think that must be made up. But it is shocking and sad that many educated people in 2018 actually attribute mental problems to demons rather than a chemical imbalance in the brain. Gothard is just one of them, but we see people like Chip and Joanna and don't want to believe that they may think that way, too. And possibly they don't. But their pastor does, and many others do.

[graefin]

FWIW:

https://blindgossip.com/?p=87947

[frenchtoast]

Let's steer back to Josh and Anna and their kids, please. 

[SMama]

Josh was dropped by TLC after the molestations became public. That item reeks of The Dullards. Except that if bad press was imminent, quitting would not have stopped publication.

Edited April 12, 2018 by SMama
Spelling

[louannems]

I'll give Josh a pass.  ALL comments point to Chip and Jo.

[Loves2Dance]

4 hours ago, SMama said:

Josh was dropped by TLC after the molesttaions became public. That item reeks of The Dullards. Except that if bad press was imminent, quitting would not have stopped publication.

Nah, imo, that is more Gaines than Dullard. 

It appears Anna's sister is pregnant with baby #4, so I have a feeling it'll be time for Anna and Josh's 6's blessing. Now that she won't have all of the granddaughters, the only other thing she can focus on is outproducing everyone else. 

[BitterApple]

1 hour ago, Loves2Dance said:

Nah, imo, that is more Gaines than Dullard. 

It appears Anna's sister is pregnant with baby #4, so I have a feeling it'll be time for Anna and Josh's 6's blessing. Now that she won't have all of the granddaughters, the only other thing she can focus on is outproducing everyone else. 

So Anna's options are fade away into obscurity or have regular sex with Smuggar to keep the numbers advantage. Quite the conundrum. 

Edited April 12, 2018 by BitterApple

[Natalie68]

16 hours ago, Heathen said:

Can you provide links so we can read more about it? I'd like to have some ammunition, so to speak, when people rave about the Gaineses. 

Topic: The Duggars lack taste, so not surprising they go for mass-market rehashes. 

I am glad I have never watched their show.  They sound like assholes hiding behind religion.  If they really cheat people like that shame on them and they deserve to be called out publicly.  

[TresGatos]

On 4/9/2018 at 6:25 PM, BitterApple said:

For shits and giggles I looked up the Magnolia Table menu and that avocado toast is $8!!! You can also add a poached egg for $1.50, lol. I have to admit though, based on the pictures I saw on Yelp, their food looks really good.

I wonder if Josh and Anna had the Housemaid Tater Tots at $10.00? Kind of amazed the are not Handmaid's Tater Tots.

[Christina87]

28 minutes ago, TresGatos said:

I wonder if Josh and Anna had the Housemaid Tater Tots at $10.00? Kind of amazed the are not Handmaid's Tater Tots.

I bet Josh did! You know he doesn't turn down unhealthy food very often...

[Heathen]

Remember Smuggar eating the burger on a doughnut thing* at some state fair? Ofsmuggar could hardly keep the look of revulsion off her face (don't ask me how she manages the rest of the time). 

 

*It was a burger on a doughnut bun or some equally repugnant state fair food.