Amidst Josh Duggar’s continuing molestation scandal, both the Hulu, and Foxtel have announced that they will be cancelling and pulling coverage of his family’s TV show, 19 Kids and Counting, with network TLC rumoured to be considering cancellation.
Reports last week revealed Josh Duggar, the eldest child of family The Duggars, had been investigated for the molestation of five underage girls, between 2002 and 2006. It was also alleged that at least three of the young girls were his sisters.
Following this news, various supporters, advertisers and backers have slowly removed their advertising and support from both the TLC show and the family itself, prompting a call for the show to be axed.
The show, which has been running since 2008 (under names 17 Kids and Counting and 18 Kids and Counting), has been pulled from all network slots and scheduling but has not yet been officially ‘cancelled’. There has not been any word so far on whether or not the show will be filmed or run in the future.
TLC released a statement, regarding the reports, saying: “Effective immediately, TLC has pulled all episodes of 19 Kids and Counting currently from the air.”
“We are deeply saddened and troubled by this heartbreaking situation,” it continued, “And our thoughts and prayers are with the family and victims at this difficult time.”
At the present stage, 33 out of 46 advertisers have pulled their branding from the show.
Josh Duggar with wife, Anna.
Josh, who is now a 27-year-old father of three (and who is expecting another child with wife, Anna Duggar), issued a public apology following the claims.
“Twelve years ago, as a young teenager, I acted inexcusably for which I am extremely sorry and deeply regret. I hurt others, including my family and close friends,” read his statement, “I confessed this to my parents who took several steps to help me address the situation. We spoke with the authorities where I confessed my wrongdoing, and my parents arranged for me and those affected by my actions to receive counselling.”
However, the ‘counselling’ and ‘steps’ referred to in his statement were revealed to be a 3-month “Christian Treatment Program”, and a “stern talk” from a former Arkansas state trooper, Joseph Hutchens, who has since been charged with child pornography and is currently serving 56 years in prison.
Since the release of this statement, however, Hutchens has made claims that he only counselled Duggar ‘based on lies’, explaining that, at the time, Josh’s father, Jim Bob, had told him it was only ‘one girl’.
“Jim Bob explained to me that Josh inappropriately touched [a victim] while she was asleep,” Hutchens alleged in an interview to InTouch Magazine, “He said it only happened one time.”
But Josh Duggar was not the only one to release a statement. His parents, Jim Bob and Michelle also released their own, stating that Josh’s actions were ‘in the past’ and that they would stand by him and continue to support him.
“Back 12 years ago our family went through one of the most difficult times of our lives. When Josh was a young teenager, he made some very bad mistakes, and we were shocked,” read the statement, “We had tried to teach him right from wrong. That dark and difficult time caused us to seek God like never before.”
Deciding not to pursue legal action over Josh’s crimes, it is understood Jim Bob and Michelle claimed that they ‘prayed for him’ instead.
However, this lenient stand on his actions does not appear to be in line with Jim Bob’s previous position on this topic.
During his unsuccessful run in the Arkansas Senate race in 2002, Jim Bob revealed that he was in favour of the death penalty for incest.
“If a woman is raped, the rapist should be executed instead of the innocent unborn baby,” said Duggar during Q&A session, “Rape and incest represent heinous crimes and as such should be treated as capital crimes.”
In addition to TLC, Foxtel and Hulu’s withdraw of support, the Duggar family is also facing backlash from celebrities, politicians and fellow network members.
Today, during an interview with Good Morning America, presidential candidate and Duggar family friend, Rick Santorum, publically denounced his relationship with the family.
“I was sickened by it. I was just sickened by it,” said Santorum, “I pray for those girls in particular.”
The Duggars have previously campaigned with Santorum in his 2012 presidential run.
Santorum’s fellow Republican candidate, Mike Huckabee, was not so quick to denounce the family, however.
“Josh’s actions when he was an underage teen are as he described them himself, ‘inexcusable,’ but that doesn’t mean ‘unforgivable,'” The current Arkansas Governor posted on Facebook, “He and his family dealt with it and were honest and open about it with the victims and the authorities…No purpose whatsoever is served by those who are now trying to discredit Josh or his family by sensationalizing the story. Good people make mistakes and do regrettable and even disgusting things.”
Singer and actress, Bette Midler, also weighed in, saying that Josh Duggar’s actions were ‘ironic’.
“Josh Duggar resigned from an anti-gay ‘family’ group due to molestation allegations,” Midler tweeted, “Kids, is there anything more delicious than irony?”
Josh Duggar and his family have not made any statements since, but have made a bid for support from the public, asking for fans to ‘vote’ for their show not to be cancelled.
