Josh & Anna Smuggar: A Series of Unfortunate Events

[General Days]

The thing that makes this hinky to me is that the cancellation of the Oprah appearance.  TLC would of known the reason why.     Also, if I am not mistaken, TLC and OWN (oprah) are both part of Discovery Communications.

 

 

I find myself amused that TLC  is "acting" like it didn't know.  Oprah Winfrey knows, but TLC doesn't.  Oprah Winfrey cancels the appearance on her show, but TLC doesn't know why.  Please. They're only shocked because everyone knows now.    

Oprah's daily talk show, The Oprah Winfrey Show, aired from 1986 through 2011.  That's the show on which the Duggars were scheduled to appear, back in 2006. It was produced by Oprah's own production company, Harpo, and distributed by King World Productions, from 1986 to 2007. King World was then folded into Viacom/CBS, which distributed The Oprah Winfrey Show, until it ended in 2011.

 

The Oprah Winfrey Show was not produced or distributed by The Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN). OWN is a 50/50 collaboration between Discovery Communications (which owns TLC) and Harpo Productions. OWN was not launched until January, 2011.

 

tl;dr:

 

Discovery Communications wasn't a producer or distributor of the producer of the Oprah vehicle on which the Duggars were scheduled to appear, in 2006. Discovery (and TLC) would not have been privy to Harpo getting the email about the Duggars, and forwarding it to law enforcement or Child Protective Services.

 

 

Please don't misunderstand me- I don't think my scenario/episode is likely to happen or even the best way. I was just responding to those who ask what *I* need to think continuing the show is reasonable. I think they should eat crow, find real jobs, and go to counselling while never filming another episode. But, I would watch show I outlined above as a swan song.

 

 

I understood what you were getting at, but the very act of filming therapy, would alter the process. The participants would be more guarded, just because of the crew's presence, never mind the idea that their therapy sessions would then be shown to a national audience. It would end up being fake, less helpful therapy, even if all the participants had the purest of intentions. I'm just thinking about it. There are things I would never say about my family to the public, that I could (and in the Duggars' cases might need to) address with a therapist.

 

As I clicked on yet another article that quoted Josh's statement from last week, I noticed something that I had not really seen before.  Josh states that "I confessed to my parents"  NO, he didn't confess, one of the girls went to the parents, THEN he told them what happened, which may or may not have been 100% factual.

 

I realize this is just semantics, but he leads people to believe that he, overcome with remorse, went to confess to JB and Michelle.  Because the statement has to paint him in the best light possible, and victims be damned.

 

 

According the Gawker timeline, Josh did confess to his parents, before the majority of his targets went to their parents. Gawker could be wrong, granted, but here's what is reported, there:

 

According to the police report released by InTouch, Josh’s father Jim Bob (referred to in the report as “James”) first learned of Josh’s behavior in March 2002, when one victim approached Jim Bob and said that Josh touched her breasts and genitals while she slept.

 

Jim Bob appears not to have acted on the accusation. In July 2002, Josh, then 14 years old, admitted to the behavior to his father, prompting Jim Bob to “discipline” Josh but not report the incident to the authorities.

 

In March 2003, according to the report, Josh fondled a victim while he read a book to her. Jim Bob was made aware of this and several more accusations—victims accused Josh of touching their breasts and genitals while they slept, and sometimes while they were awake.

 

 

 

Full context:  http://defamer.gawker.com/the-web-has-known-about-josh-duggar-for-years-when-did-1706258269

[Granny58]

Ugh. The Roloff's have been "so over" for awhile now. Matt and Amy haven't tolerated each other's presence in YEARS. TLC must have been pretty desperate (and Jen Arnold couldn't get off work).

 

 

 

 

What is it with us only children and large family curiosity? Wanting what we never had? When I was a kid, I loved a book called I Should Have Seen it Coming When the Rabbit Died. The author, Teresa Bloomingdale, was a devoted Catholic who "practiced" rhythm method birth control (but never actually perfected it) and ended up with 12 kids.  It was written in an Erma Bombeck style, with humor.  I think that I still have the paperback in a box somewhere. 

 

 

 

 

Maybe not. If one of the girls breaks free and decides to spill, THAT will be on the cover, for sure. Oh, to dream. 

Thank you!  Book put on my Amazon wish list!

[Cherrio]

"Oprah's daily talk show, The Oprah Winfrey Show, aired from 1986 through 2011.  That's the show on which the Duggars were scheduled to appear, back in 2006. It was produced by Oprah's own production company, Harpo, and distributed by King World Productions, from 1986 to 2007. King World was then folded into Viacom/CBS, which distributed The Oprah Winfrey Show, until it ended in 2011."

 

Yes, you are right. I was thinking in present day and forgot about the timeline. Thanks for correcting me.  :)

[HumblePi]

My husband came in to where I was watching TV and said "hey, your Duggar's are on the Dr. Drew show", he knows that I've been following this story. Dr. Drew and his 3 guests were all astounded by the allegations of sexual molestation. They showed a clip from 2013 when Josh appeared on an Evangelist television show. Josh talks about being away at a Christian ministry for months, and away from his parents.This is where he was sent, age 15, to deal with the sexual abuse. "And I never looked back". Dr. Drew was outraged at this video. Dr. Drew's concerns were all for the children.

 

https://youtu.be/CRrllCon-pM?t=19m13s

 

Erin Merryn spoke to Dr. Drew from a remote camera. Erin is an American writer and activist from Schaumburg, Illinois who advocates the prevention of child sexual abuse. Beginning in 2010, she launched a campaign to pass a law that would mandate a sexual abuse prevention curriculum in schools, called Erin's Law, and has since seen it successfully passed in several states. In 2014, she was invited by the Duggar's themselves to come to their home to speak to their children about sexual abuse. The Duggar's were attending a child abuse conference where she was speaking. She said went to the Duggar's home and there were 9 kids home, the little ones. The home was clean, the kids were the most well behaved and respectful kids she ever met. The children were very receptive to what she was saying, they were attentive and asked questions. All the children there happened to be all the younger children, the older girls weren't there, they had been sent away to a camp.

 

Dr. Drew showed an old video of Joy covering up part of the screen of a television that three of the boys were watching. She was blocking their 'immodest dress' from their eyes. She said she was covering up what the boys shouldn't see because some of the women had 'low-cuts'. When asked why can't the boy see that? Joy thought for a while, then said "um...because it's bad".  They also had a clip from a few years ago when they spoke with Jana. She said that when they're all walking past a girl that was immodestly dressed, they called out a code word 'Nike' at which point the boys had to lower their eyes and not look until they passed the girl.

Edited May 29, 2015 by HumblePi

[Granny58]

I totally agree. When they first signed on, I'm sure they did not assume the show would last this many years. A normal person would have invested that money. Jb might act stupid but i don't think he's stupid about money. They will be fine living off of that money for awhile. And shame on them if they never thought about the possibility of cancellation & didn't think of a plan b.

a poster above said they may have first thought it a good way to espouse Gothardism....but I think it was even more fundamental (pun!) than that.  The first special would simply have meant some money and with a large family who wouldn't want that?  And then another special!  Yippee, puts new tires on the car, etc.  And it  skyrocketed from there.  

[JoanArc]

 

The home was clean, the kids were the most well behaved and respectful kids she ever met. The children were very receptive to what she was saying, they were attentive and asked questions. All the children there happened to be all the younger children, the older girls weren't there, they had been sent away to a camp.

Goddamn it! I posted about Erin Merryn a few days ago, but hadn't heard this story. This makes me hate Jim Bob and Michelle EVEN MORE.

[NextIteration]

Michael Reagan, son of President Ronald Reagan, wrote a great article addressing Josh and his crimes http://www.cagle.com/2015/05/conservative-christians-miscount/

 

Wow, he really went there.  

[General Days]

 

Yes, you are right. I was thinking in present day and forgot about the timeline. Thanks for correcting me.  :)

 

No problem. I've seen this all over the web (at least on any site that isn't white washing the past). It's hard to remember that Oprah became Queen of the World in steps, because it seems like she always should have ruled the whole kit and caboodle.

The only reason I had the dates down, is because I looked it up. I know Oprah's personal history, and was pretty sure, because she's Oprah, that she wouldn't have knowingly allowed anyone to look the other way, while there was a question of children being molested. I was relieved to see that it would be five years after Harpo got the email, that she went into business with Discovery. I believe Harpo took all the right steps, back in 2006. They got a tip, they turned it over to the authorities, and they canceled the Duggars' appearance.

Whether or not Discovery can claim total ignorance is another question -- one I don't expect an answer to, unless someone writes a tell-all, some day, or someone at Discovery/TLC blows the whistle. It seems like Discovery probably should have known that the Duggars' spot on The Oprah Winfrey Show was canceled, but if X Kids & Counting wasn't in production at the time, and/or if Discovery didn't arrange for the appearance, I'm not sure Discovery must have have known, or known why. 

Had I been a Harpo exec., canceling the appearance of a family I'd just dropped a dime on, I wouldn't tell that family I'd just gotten information about their son molesting their daughters. It would come down to a "scheduling conflict," or something else vague. Still, I wonder how quickly the Duggars started putting 2 and 2 together.

I've seen something spoken of a few different ways. Does anyone know if the Duggars did actually tape an episode of Oprah, and then it never aired? There were lots of supposed leaks at the time, about the contents of the episode (like the girls getting offered scholarships and such), but that's just stuff on message boards. It seems to me that in articles I've read, Harpo canceled the episode outright (i.e. didn't tape anything), but sometimes, stuff like that just gets glossed over during lazy reporting. I know it never aired, but did any of it get taped?

 

Edited May 29, 2015 by General Days

[3 is enough]

You would think that with everything going on now, that if there had been a taping, one of the hundreds of audience members would come forward and say "I was there, and this is what I saw."  No accounts leads me to believe there was no taped episode.

[JoanArc]

You would think that with everything going on now, that if there had been a taping, one of the hundreds of audience members would come forward and say "I was there, and this is what I saw."  No accounts leads me to believe there was no taped episode.

We've seen Oprah's legal team was on the ball. The studio audience might have to sign NDA's.

[Fuzzysox]

My husband came in to where I was watching TV and said "hey, your Duggar's are on the Dr. Drew show", he knows that I've been following this story. Dr. Drew and his 3 guests were all astounded by the allegations of sexual molestation. They showed a clip from 2013 when Josh appeared on an Evangelist television show. Josh talks about being away at a Christian ministry for months, and away from his parents.This is where he was sent, age 15, to deal with the sexual abuse. "And I never looked back". Dr. Drew was outraged at this video. Dr. Drew's concerns were all for the children.
 
https://youtu.be/CRrllCon-pM?t=19m13s
 
Erin Merryn spoke to Dr. Drew from a remote camera. Erin is an American writer and activist from Schaumburg, Illinois who advocates the prevention of child sexual abuse. Beginning in 2010, she launched a campaign to pass a law that would mandate a sexual abuse prevention curriculum in schools, called Erin's Law, and has since seen it successfully passed in several states. In 2014, she was invited by the Duggar's themselves to come to their home to speak to their children about sexual abuse. The Duggar's were attending a child abuse conference where she was speaking. She said went to the Duggar's home and there were 9 kids home, the little ones. The home was clean, the kids were the most well behaved and respectful kids she ever met. The children were very receptive to what she was saying, they were attentive and asked questions. All the children there happened to be all the younger children, the older girls weren't there, they had been sent away to a camp.
 
Dr. Drew showed an old video of Joy covering up part of the screen of a television that three of the boys were watching. She was blocking their 'immodest dress' from their eyes. She said she was covering up what the boys shouldn't see because some of the women had 'low-cuts'. When asked why can't the boy see that? Joy thought for a while, then said "um...because it's bad".  They also had a clip from a few years ago when they spoke with Jana. She said that when they're all walking past a girl that was immodestly dressed, they called out a code word 'Nike' at which point the boys had to lower their eyes and not look until they passed the girl.

I watched it too. Strange that Erin said the kids were well behaved? Even stranger that they invited her to talk in light of what had already happened. Edited May 29, 2015 by aethera
fixed broken quotes :)

[Sew Sumi]

I challenge the veracity of parts of this account. No way either Jill or Jessa went to a "camp" last year. Jill was engaged, then married. Both were played out on TV; she didn't go anywhere during this time. Same goes for Jessa. She was present for all filming last year, unlike periods when both Josiah and Joe were missing. Her narrative was driving the show, so no way they sent her off anywhere. Jana, Joy and Jinger may have gone somewhere, but it would have had to have been between Jill's wedding and Jessa's engagement. There is no other time during the year they could have gone. Obviously, Jill was married and therefore not eligible for Journey to the Heart any longer. And again, Jessa was Instagramming up a storm last summer, so no, she didn't go anywhere. 

 

edited to add: The girls were probably out filming either a Jill or Jessa engagement segment, but the Duggars would never admit that. I think that's the simple solution here. :)

Edited May 29, 2015 by Sew Sumi

[JoanArc]

I challenge the veracity of parts of this account.

 

FWIW, no older girls pictured. The 'camp' part was probably a lie. They could've been sent elsewhere that day for the time Erin was there. This wasn't on the show. Since when does this family tell the truth? They just didn't want the oldest kids hearing what Erin had to say.

Edited May 29, 2015 by JoanArc

[Fuzzysox]

Or they use the away at camp simply as an excuse. Didn't a poster here say that she called the duggar house and Michelle answered and said John David was away at camp?

Edited May 29, 2015 by Fuzzysox

[HumblePi]

I watched it too. Strange that Erin said the kids were well behaved? Even stranger that they invited her to talk in light of what had already happened.

My take on this is that since it was 2014 and the older girls were already either married like Jill or about to be like Jessa that they wanted to bring the warnings and the messages that Erin carried to the younger children. I guess that Michelle and Jim Bob weren't comfortable speaking to their kids about siblings sexually molesting other siblings. I can understand why. I thought it was a definite indication since they requested her presence inside their own home, that they had some fears in the back of their minds that it wouldn't be impossible that other abuses could possibly occur within their home.

Edited May 29, 2015 by HumblePi

[BitterApple]

Are those Styrofoam plates with slices of cheese on them?! Seriously?! They don't have a proper tray to serve hors d'oeuvres to their guests? Tacky, tacky, tacky.

[Bella]

Thread drift keeps happening, which is understandable. But it would be great if people could get better oriented to posting their thoughts in the right threads.

 

Thanks!

[GEML]

It might also be that the older girls didn't want to hear. They would have had internet access at this point. They would have known who she was. They might have said, "Look, we aren't going to make a big deal about it, but we don't have to sit in the room and listen to someone and pretend it never happened, either." To be honest, I can see Jim Bob and Michelle respecting that boundary.

[NEGirl]

Bitter Apple - Yes, that is styrofoam plates - a class act all the way.

GEML - I agree - why did the older girls need to hear her, they already experienced it and knew their parents did nothing to protect them. The fact Erin came to their home is quite telling - obviously Boob and J'Chelle had concerns it could happen again.

[Bella]

We're not going to talk about the Hastert situation in this thread. If it's discussed at all in this forum (and we quite frankly prefer but do not require that it go somewhere else), it would go into the Small Talk thread.

 

This is the Josh and Anna thread.

 

Thanks!

[Angeltoes]

I don't believe that Jim Bob is the highest authority in that house. I gurantee that everything and everybody is ruled by Michelle. Can totally see her telling the girls that what happened to them wasn't that big a deal. We never see any genuine affection towards her from the girls because there is no bigger loss of trust in this world than a parent who does not protect you and chooses to dismiss your needs.

I rewatched the mini-golf scene on youtube because I didn't really pay much attention when I first saw the show. Dear Lord, get a room.

[JenCarroll]

If Josh touched Holy water it would be like when the wicked witch was doused with water, I'm melting!!!

Dropping a house on him might be more expedient.

[Happyfatchick]

Disagree. Until and unless the girls leave the strictures of their extreme belief system, they have control over NOTHING. As an escapee of fundamental Christianity, there is no way to overemphasize how thoroughly locked-in they are. Without a massive paradigm shift, they will do what the men in their lives tell them to do. If you see them bringing a lawsuit now, it will be because that's what they were instructed to do.

This. this is so true. When all this broke, I would have so so much liked to think at least ONE of those kids thought this "distraction" might be a zip line out of there. Even the married ones - maybe they would take at least a teeny tiny step toward the exit. In reality, I'm sure there were buckets and buckets of tears, and then all eyes were in Daddy Duggar asking, "what do we do?" They don't know anything else.

Josh does, though. He's lived in the real world. I don't know exactly what Anna's exposure was to real life - it always seemed they were still fairly sequestered. Josh could have been the side stepper - and now, not so much. He "could", conceivably have led some of the others into a less sheltered life. Now that he's been exposed, he's going right back to Daddy Duggar to say, "what do we do?"

I'm not sure what will happen in the interim, but ultimately, Josh will go public, say what he has to say, and then he will go full-on into a speaking gig where he will support his family from all the coverup, sins and molestation. There's nothing, NOTHING religious people like to hear more than a reformation story. Hide and watch. This will happen. There will be hecklers, and this too shall make news.

The only kink to his public speaking life after the fall is going to be the older girls, who would also be able to support families with speaking tours to religious groups. The next best thing to a reformation story is a abusive/forgave my abuser story. Logistically, I'm not sure these can happen concurrently and I'm guessing the sisters have to take a back seat to Josh's pony show (because that will be JB's edict). I'm not sure Josh and sisters ever will be on a platform together; that may be just too much for anyone to get past. But maybe. One or more of those kids will have a healthy speaking life for years to come.

No way is anybody breaking the Duggar mold over this. They will come out United, bet on it.

Edited May 29, 2015 by Happyfatchick

[CherryAmes]

On another site I visit where this is being discussed someone is insisting there was no cover up and no hypocricy because this happened in 2003 and the Duggars didn't go on TV until 2005.  I wasn't watching the show back then but I'm pretty sure they always portrayed themselves as pure as the driven snow with Josh being the jewel in their crown.  I have no idea why this person thinks it shouldn't matter since the molesting didn't happen when the show was actually being aired.

[Jellybeans]

All snark aside, I hope Anna and her children are alright. I am thinking of them.

[Missy Vixen]

It's been interesting to see what's happened to other "shamed" evangelicals, from Ted Haggard to Tammy Faye Baker. 

Tammy Faye Bakker spent the rest of her life apologizing (and atoning for) her behavior. IMHO of course, but I don't put her in the same category as guys like Ted Haggard and Jimmy Swaggart. Her repentance (and her realization that she was wrong) was genuine. If you haven't seen The Eyes of Tammy Faye Bakker, I recommend it.

 

Edited because it's good to write something even somewhat understandable...

Edited May 29, 2015 by Missy Vixen

[NEGirl]

JellyBeans - I have too. I can only imagine how confusing this must be for the poor kids and how stressful this is for poor Anna. I truely believe she did not know the whole story regarding Josh and him molesting the girls. Anna can be annoying, but she has shown herself to be a good mother who loves her children.  She must feel that her whole life is falling apart and she has no control over what is happening.  One has to wonder what her conversations with Josh are like - that's if she is speaking to him at all.

[NikSac]

I find myself amused that TLC  is "acting" like it didn't know.  Oprah Winfrey knows, but TLC doesn't.  Oprah Winfrey cancels the appearance on her show, but TLC doesn't know why.  Please. They're only shocked because everyone knows now.    

 

I bet depending on who you're talking about at TLC, some of them did know. It's hard to just say "TLC knew" in my opinion. I am fairly certain some people at TLC knew, especially the higher-ups. It wouldn't surprise me to find out that the people who were in the house all the time - camera, sound, etc. didn't know, and I can see how those people might be pretty shocked.  Production I could go either way, maybe, maybe not.

 

ETA: after finishing catching up, I don't think they knew because of any affiliation with Oprah at the time. I just feel like whoever told Oprah would probably have told someone at TLC, too. At very least I bet they knew about the rumors.

Edited May 29, 2015 by NikSac

[Julia]

NOT a defense of Boob, but to me the incest statement was specifically referring to intercourse (since it was about abortion) and there has been no indication that Josh did that.

I don't claim to be any kind of expert on what these folks think. As far as I know, though, they consider lust and masturbation to be sins equal in the eyes of the lord to fornication, which makes me doubt that they consider groping genitals to be less serious than intercourse.

[Missy Vixen]

Wow, he really went there.  

My mouth is hanging open.

BOOM.

[xls]

All snark aside, I hope Anna and her children are alright. I am thinking of them.

Me too, I hope they don't suffer any hardship because of this.

[NikSac]

Erin Merryn spoke to Dr. Drew from a remote camera. Erin is an American writer and activist from Schaumburg, Illinois who advocates the prevention of child sexual abuse. Beginning in 2010, she launched a campaign to pass a law that would mandate a sexual abuse prevention curriculum in schools, called Erin's Law, and has since seen it successfully passed in several states. In 2014, she was invited by the Duggar's themselves to come to their home to speak to their children about sexual abuse. The Duggar's were attending a child abuse conference where she was speaking. She said went to the Duggar's home and there were 9 kids home, the little ones. The home was clean, the kids were the most well behaved and respectful kids she ever met. The children were very receptive to what she was saying, they were attentive and asked questions. All the children there happened to be all the younger children, the older girls weren't there, they had been sent away to a camp.

 

Wow. That is all kinds of sick. Send the girls you know were abused away while the younger ones get some kind of help and resources, or at least a talk about it?

[Leigh3]

Wise words Michael Reagan http://www.cagle.com/2015/05/conservative-christians-miscount/

I sums up what I have been thinking/feeling since this hit the fan last week. Highly recommend reading this article

[Jellybeans]

Me too, I hope they don't suffer any hardship because of this.

That's the thing. They will suffer.

[JoanArc]

That's the thing. They will suffer.

The first time they Google their names, and there's nothing anyone can do about that. Very sad.

[xls]

Tammy Faye Bakker spent the rest of her life apologizing (and atoning for) her behavior. IMHO of course, but I don't put her in the same category as guys like Ted Haggard and Jimmy Swaggart. Her repentance (and her realization that she was wrong) was genuine. If you haven't seen The Eyes of Tammy Faye Bakker, I recommend it.

 

Edited because it's good to write something even somewhat understandable...

Going a bit OT. Seeing Tammy Faye on the Surreal Life (if anyone remembers that show) totally changed my mind about her. She was a genuine example of what a Christian should be IMHO, she accepted everyone regardless of their lifestyle, unlike the Duggars

[shipmate]

Has their been any public comment from the regular crew members - like the ones they just featured on an episode (is one Jim the sound guy?)

[NextIteration]

Well, that brings up something interesting, I wonder if any of the girls looked at FreeJinger.  hmmmm 

[Julia]

Going a bit OT. Seeing Tammy Faye on the Surreal Life (if anyone remembers that show) totally changed my mind about her. She was a genuine example of what a Christian should be IMHO, she accepted everyone regardless of their lifestyle, unlike the Duggars

 

I was living in NC, near where their park was, when the Bakker scandal came out. I've never been able to make myself believe that Tammy Faye had any control over what happened. I think she was a fig leaf (although by the time they were busted, I doubt she had as much contact with Jim's genitive area as that might imply).

Edited May 29, 2015 by Julia

[jschoolgirl]

I'm embarrassed of how much I've been thinking about the Duggars.

---------------------

Well, I've thought about them so much that I had a dream the other night that I was reading news accounts of Josh, Jim Bob, and Michelle's death in the wake of the scandal.

[Granny58]

In giving it some thought, I’m not surprised that Josh did what he did.  When you’re a teenage boy with raging hormones, and your parents, instead of explaining the changes you’re going through, talk (on a daily basis) about defrauding, and pound into your head that you’re not supposed to have impure thoughts, while your dad (on a daily basis) gropes your mother, it has to be hard to keep all thoughts of sex off your mind.  Think about it.  JimBob can’t seem to talk about anything else except his daughter’s purity, modesty, sexing up Michelle for another baby (hey, hey, hey), all the sinful things that are going to send you to hell, etc., and if he’s not talking about these things, he’s playing grab ass and sticking his tongue down Michelle’s throat.

 

JimBob and Michelle not only hid their son’s crimes, but they put all the thoughts about sex in his head by talking about how sinful it would be for him, while flaunting their sex lives in front of the kids all fucking day long.

 

If TLC decides (god forbid) to make a new show without Josh, they’d better leave the mother of the year and her disgusting, horny husband out too.  The thought of seeing any of them on my TV ever again makes me want to hurl!

Exactly.  I think Josh was raised in a very bizarre atmosphere.  And after I read somebody's link about the baby training, spanking EVERY day, etc. it makes perfect sense that the girls would not say anything.  The whole thing is messed up.  Boob and Mechelle I think bear the heaviest load in this. 

[rulesoftravel]

 

ETA: after finishing catching up, I don't think they knew because of any affiliation with Oprah at the time. I just feel like whoever told Oprah would probably have told someone at TLC, too. At very least I bet they knew about the rumors.

 Exactly.   It does not matter to me whether Oprah was with Discovery or any other network.  Whoever emailed her show anonymously probably contacted TLC.   I find it disgusting that after all the things that have happened with their little reality shows (Cake Boss rape accusation, Jon and Kate infidelity issues) that they didn't vet this shit for brains family better.   And that's it for me.  Cancel this mess now, TLC.

[SopranoKris]

I'm embarrassed of how much I've been thinking about the Duggars.

---------------------

Well, I've thought about them so much that I had a dream the other night that I was reading news accounts of Josh, Jim Bob, and Michelle's death in the wake of the scandal.

I actually had a nightmare that the TTH turned into a scene from the Jim Jones compound in Guyana.  YIKES!!!  Glad it was just a nightmare, but it does worry me that their world is crumbling.

 

Back to the topic:  considering how much the Duggars shun the media (in terms of watching it, reading it, etc.), I wonder how much Smuggar is aware of the public sentiment about it.  Ignorance may be bliss for him right now.  UGH!  But I can see him & Anna staying cocooned in their little world so none of it bothers them.  They've prayed for "forgiveness" so, in their minds, it's all behind them now.  The nickname "Smuggar" has never been more appropriate than now.

[rulesoftravel]

I don't think the Duggars shun the media.   They are everywhere in the media-they are part of the media.  They use the media to spread their hypocritical messages.  Shunning the media-I think not.   I think it's probably a good idea to discount anything that comes from these lying liars who lie.

 

Josh will probably be on DWtS... (sarcasm).

Edited May 29, 2015 by rulesoftravel

[Satchels of gold]

No way can Josh ever come back from child sexual assault. ( of a five year old no less) No way. Anything else but that. I don't think we will ever see any of them again on main stream TV. I didn't watch the show but as soon as the news broke I hightailed it to this forum because you guys are better then the NSA in digging for info (I know from my housewives forum) . You did not disappoint . it's sweet how the viewers really care about the girls and I was espically touched by the concern shown for Anna. I also think it's wonderful the support that has been given to victims that choose to share their stories here. I hope they can take the collective outrage and apply it to their own situations. Trust that if the right people knew, that outrage would have been for you too. I hope there is some healing in knowing that people from all walks of life, different religions and socio economic status all find it appalling. I hope there is healing for the Duggar girls and all the other victims.

I've been reading here since it happened but didn't want to post because I felt long term viewers really had a sense of ownership with the kids and I didn't want to "crash the forum with my Johnny come lately opinions. But that's my take.

[Gemma Violet]

I just saw a segment on Inside Edition on Josh buying a house close to his parents for $50,000 or $55,000, I forgot which...a fixer-upper, they called it.  It was a small house and the carpets were covered in stains.  The reporter said the family will help Josh fix it up.  

 

eta--I just looked at it again on my DVR.  It was described as less than lavish.  And it was $55,000.  

Edited May 30, 2015 by Gemma Violet

[Sew Sumi]

FakeJoshDuggar has put together quite the retrospective regarding the history of the Mold House. It was purchased from GARRETT RUARK (Michelle's father) more than a year after he'd moved back to Ohio, for almost four times market value.....around the same time Smuggar appealed the findings of the DHS. It's obvious that a)The Duggars wanted Josh out. His courtship with Anna was ramped up, beginning in Jan. '08 (IIRC). and b)JB and Michelle didn't want to be associated with this purchase, lest people connect the dots, so enter GrandmaPaul! Overpaying also buys Ruark's silence. Remember, he was living with the Duggars for a while. He certainly...knew things....

 

Wow, so dysfunctional...

 

https://fakejoshduggar.wordpress.com/2015/05/29/you-be-the-judge/

Edited May 30, 2015 by Sew Sumi

[GeeGolly]

I work with many individuals that have experienced many forms of trauma. We prefer to use the word survivor rather than victim.

[JAYJAY1979]

I do hope that we eventually move beyond outing the survivors. Let them come forward on their own when.and if they are ready to.

Edited May 30, 2015 by JAYJAY1979

[kathe5133]

I just took a look at fakejoshduggar.whatever. Wow. I now dislike this family and I am enjoying hearing others take on the situation, but a shit load of time and effort went into that site. That shows a great deal of focused rage. Who has time for such nonsense? And no, I am not suggesting we track down the site owners. Really who gives a shit who owned what house when? They are proven liars and they will get what is coming to them. Step away from the computer and step out into the sunshine! TLC will cancel the show or we will all stop watching. Period.

We can't save them from themselves and I worry about those whose hatred is so focused and vengeful. I fear it adds fuel to the fire of those who are saying that all this furor is just because of the Duggar's religious beliefs. Sites like that detract from the fact that Josh molestested his sisters. His mother and father covered it up. So they lied about houses and such. Why is that surprising? Anyone who would lie to protect a pedophile is capable of anything.