Duggar fans continue to hold out hope that there will be some future for their favorite large family.
Amid rumors that TLC is on the verge of canceling the show — and a planned tell-all interview on Megyn Kelly’s show slated for next week — there are plenty of undeterred people who think the family should continue to have a platform in spite of Josh Duggar’s admission that he molested his sisters and Jim Bob and Michelle’s alleged covering up of the crime.
A Facebook post Saturday morning triggered many supportive comments.
Within the post itself — which you can read here — the Duggars include a link to their family blog entitled, “Next Week.”
“Next week we will sit down with Megyn Kelly on Fox News to share our hearts with you about the pain that we walked through as a family twelve years ago, the tears we all shed and the forgiveness that was given. We appreciate the outpouring of love and prayers for our family at this time.
-Jim Bob & Michelle Duggar”
From this stemmed a wave of support from Duggar fans. Here’s just a sampling.
“I really really hope TLC brings the duggars [sic] back and doesn’t get canceled. I’ve been a fan FOREVER and the details shocked me, but I am NOT one to judge. Because we all have made mistakes in our lives that we’ve learned from and aren’t proud of. God forgives. I hope all the negativity and rude comments doesn’t hurt or affect anyone in the family.”
“Those who are judging Josh, should read the story of the Prodigal Son. He went off course, but when he came back, nor his family nor the Angels in Heaven said ‘Great, this sicko is back. We won’t let him back in!’ They REJOICED because he had turned back to the way of the Lord.”
“This whole situation is heartbreaking and has made me sad because over the years I have come to care about your family. I am sad for the girls, sad for Jim Bob and Michelle, sad for Anna and the kids, sad for Josh. I am sad that this has been so humiliating for all and for the pain of being the victim, for the shame of being the man that is now being judged for what he did when he was just a boy. I can only imagine what it’s like for Anna, knowing that the world is saying things about her husband, for Josh, knowing his deepest shame has been revealed, for the girls, who should never have had to live this out in front of the world. We are supposed to protect victims, not put them on display. I sincerely hope that TLC will keep the show on the air. My love for your family has not wavered, as, I am sure, is the same for most of your other fans.”
The Duggar Facebook post currently has 6,284 likes, 250 shares, and close to 1,000 comments.
Critics of the family and of Duggar fans accuse them of protecting a child molester while forgetting about the pain that the four Duggar victims experienced so long ago as well as now since the In Touch Weekly story broke almost two weeks ago.
They also criticize the “counseling” that Jim Bob and Michelle reportedly sought for their son and the girls, and they claim that the parents intentionally waited to report the crimes to authorities so Josh could escape punishment due to an expired statute of limitations.
They also find the serial nature of Josh’s admitted offenses to be more than “just a mistake.”
But what do you think about Duggar fans and their defense of the family? Sound off in the comments section below.
[Image via Facebook]