Josh Duggar is the oldest of the 19 Duggar children, and on Thursday the 27-year-old admitted to molesting several girls, including his own sisters, when he was a teenager, and subsequently quit his job as the executive director of the Family Research Council, a leading conservative group that fights abortion and gay marriage.
Back in 2006, Josh confessed to his father Jim Bob that he had molested five girls. He was 15 at the time, and his father waited a year before alerting authorities. He was investigated for multiple sex offenses, including “forcible fondling.”
His confession comes after In Touch found the police records documenting the molestation.
“The report says that James told police he was alerted in March 2002 by a female minor that Josh had been touching her breasts and genitals while she slept. This allegedly happened on multiple occasions,” In Touch reports.
“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,” Josh said in the statement on the family’s Facebook page.
(Photo: Doug Meszler / Splash News)
“We spoke with the authorities where I confessed my wrongdoing, and my parents arranged for me and those affected by my actions to receive counseling. I understood that if I continued down this wrong road that I would end up ruining my life.”
Josh’s parents also said that they hoped those who watched their show understood that the Duggars are not a “perfect family.”
(Photo: Doug Meszler / Splash News)
But many on Twitter think TLC should cancel the family’s show.
The series has been on since 2008, and shows what it’s like for parents to raise an extremely large family while homeschooling and limiting media intake, their way of raising Godly children.
“#CancelTheDuggars” is now trending on Twitter.
Found the worst corner of the Internet (aka supportive tweets/FB comments for the #Duggars). The hypocrisy is riveting. #CancelTheDuggars.
— Candice (@StayOffMyBeat) May 22, 2015
The people at @TLC are hypocrites along with this disgusting family #BoycottTLC #CancelTheDuggars
— McKenna Burden (@McKennaBurden) May 22, 2015
Homosexuality is a sin but molesting your little sisters is a "juvenile mistake" ???????????? #CancelTheDuggars
— amber (@_______amber) May 22, 2015
"You can't judge the Duggars!" Actually, this is something I feel very comfortable judging. #CancelTheDuggars
— Kayleigh Anne (@Ceilidhann) May 22, 2015
At least #JoshDuggar didn't do something really terrible like smoke weed. You get arrested and placed in jail over that. #CancelTheDuggars
— Lauren Summers (@lauren_summers) May 22, 2015
Sorry, @TLC, but if you're going to cancel Honey Boo Boo for just associating with a child molester, you have to #CancelTheDuggars now.
— Slay-Z (@MsAmandaAsh) May 22, 2015
So Jim Bob knew for a whole year that his son was molesting his daughters and yet he did nothing…sickening #JoshDuggar #CancelTheDuggars
— Emily (@korrakrew43) May 22, 2015
Sorry, @TLC, but if you're going to cancel Honey Boo Boo for just associating with a child molester, you have to #CancelTheDuggars now.
— Slay-Z (@MsAmandaAsh) May 22, 2015
Do you think “19 Kids and Counting” should be canceled? (RELATED: Mama June Threatens To Sue TLC For Not Canceling Duggar Family’s Show Over Molestation Accusations)
Note: TMZ reports that though the network has not made a permanent decision, all episodes of “19 Kids and Counting” have been pulled from airing temporarily.