Josh Duggar Cancels Speaking Engagement, But ’19 Kids And Counting’ Could Still Go On Without Him

Josh Duggar has canceled a speaking appearance at a Christian homeschooling convention and may see his days on 19 Kids And Counting come to an end as well, a move that might just save the television show from cancellation.

After reports this week uncovered multiple allegations of sexual abuse against the eldest Duggar son, TLC moved quickly to take the show off the air and issue a public apology. While it initially appeared that the show would not return, there are now reports surfacing that TLC will simply remove Josh from the show and continue on with the rest of the Duggar clan.

There could be a lot at stake for the network. The show has been a ratings giant for TLC, and most of the draw has been from the Duggar sisters. TMZ found that the highest ratings came from episodes featuring Duggar women, including Jessa and Jill’s weddings and the arrival of Jill’s first child. Removing Josh could allow the show to go on while focusing on the other Duggar family members.

Others are already distancing themselves from Josh Duggar, including the Christian homeschooling conference that canceled his appearance not long after the allegations were made public.

In an open letter, the Teach Them Diligently convention planners noted as follows.

“Yesterday, we heard the completely unexpected news regarding Josh Duggar. Since then, Josh Duggar has withdrawn as a speaker at Teach Them Diligently in Sandusky. While we could fret or argue over what is truth and what is gossip in the recent media reports, we would rather change the focus for a moment to what God has in store for the families that will be arriving on Thursday for Teach Them Diligently in Sandusky, OH.

God never wastes these opportunities, and we are confident that God is about to do something amazing. Despite the disappointment and disbelief that accompanies news like we have heard, we have come to expect that through disappointments, we will witness God working mightily!”

So far, TLC has not announced what the future will hold for 19 Kids And Counting, but ET noted that there could be more trouble ahead. Details of the network’s knowledge of Josh Duggar’s alleged child abuse are still coming out, but the report claims that the network must have known.

“It’s hard to believe that TLC wasn’t aware of Josh’s history before now. In 2006, The Oprah Winfrey Show cancelled a scheduled appearance by the Duggars after receiving an email tip about Josh’s indiscretions. That letter was reported to the Department of Human Services, which led to an investigation by Springdale, Arkansas, police in December 2006.”

While Josh Duggar is avoiding the public spotlight and canceling speaking engagements, he did move quickly to explain the allegations. In a statement posted to Facebook, the family said he “made some very bad mistakes” and received counseling.

[Image via TLC]