Could 19 Kids And Counting continue the tale of the Duggars by focusing only on the quartet of Duggar family newlyweds, who include Jill and Derick Dillard, and Jessa and Ben Seewald? That’s the possibility under consideration as TLC faces a backlash following reports that Josh Duggar molested five underage girls, reported People .
Thus far, TLC has pulled, but not cancelled, every episode of 19 Kids . The network’s decision to pull the show came when producers learned about a police investigation of Josh after his victims accused him of molesting them.
As petitions circulate to cancel the show, one insider revealed that a version of 19 Kids And Counting could be filmed showing the story only of Jill, Derick, Jessa, and Ben.
“The show had begun to focus more and more on the next generation of Duggars, anyway – mainly Jill and Jessa and their marriages and babies,” added the insider. “That’s when the show got its highest ratings.”
However, companies are pulling their ads after the 19 Kids And Counting controversy, reported Us Weekly .
Thus far, Walgreens, Payless ShoeSource, and Choice Hotels have announced via social media that they no longer would support 19 Kids and Counting with their commercials.
“In the wake of recent news, we are no longer advertising on the ’19 Kids and Counting’ program,” stated Walgreens’ Facebook page.
In addition, General Mills announced that the corporation was pulling their ads , according to the Hollywood Reporter .
Responding to the situation, TLC released an announcement.
“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, and our thoughts and prayers are with the family and victims at this difficult time.”
As the Inquisitr reported, new details have emerged from the unsealed police report describing Josh Duggar’s child molestation timeline and victims’ revelations.
Just released, the police report contains Josh’s confession that he molested a total of five girls. In addition, the details include a question from an investigator about spankings. One of the girls who was molested discussed the punishment dished out by Jim Bob and Michelle.
“They have a rod,” said the victim when asked what the parents used to spank their children. “[They] do this to all the kids.”
Josh molested five underage girls in 2002 and 2003, but was not charged for two reasons. First, the statute of limitations had already passed, and second, Jim Bob and Michelle failed to let anyone in authority know about what happened.
The allegations from unnamed minors included charges that Josh, then 14-years-old, had touched the girls’ private parts while they were asleep. He did confess to the initial claim, and Jim Bob called together the family for a meeting and also talked about it with his church’s elders.
Police learned about the situation in 2006, when just before the Duggars were scheduled to appear on Oprah Winfrey’s show, producers discovered the secrets that the family had hidden. It was Oprah’s staff who notified authorities.
[Photo by Brendan Hoffman / Getty Images]