Joy-Anna Duggar And Austin Forsyth Slammed For Enjoying ‘Animal Abuse’ As Fans Beg For Baby Update

Joy-Anna Duggar and Austin Forsyth spent the weekend in the Lone Star state, and some of the Counting On stars’ Instagram followers did not approve of one of the events that they attended during their visit. However, while critics accused the couple of watching animal abuse for fun, Duggar fans ignored the controversy and begged Joy-Anna for a baby bump update.

On Sunday, Joy-Anna Duggar and Austin Forsyth took to Instagram to share a three photos that were snapped during their recent trip to Fort Worth, Texas. The couple attended a rodeo at the Fort Worth Stockyards, and the empty rodeo arena can be seen in the background of their first image. A few of their Instagram followers responded to the snapshot by expressing their disappointment that Joy-Anna’s baby bump is not visible in it.

“Bump updates please!!” begged one fan.

“Can we get a little update on Baby Forsyth?” another asked.

The last baby bump update Joy-Anna Duggar shared was on October 1. One of her Instagram followers speculated that the pregnant Counting On star purposely kept her body out of the rodeo photo because she did not want to endure any “hateful comments” about the size of her stomach. However, she couldn’t completely escape scrutiny; upset followers flooded her Instagram post with complaints about her decision to attend a rodeo during her trip to Texas.

“I hate this crap this is animal abuse but nice picture,” wrote one commenter.

“How fun! You got to watch animals be tortured for your pleasure. I’m sure Jesus would do the same,” another remarked.

“Ah yes, I can see it now. Jesus himself sitting beside you two, yucking it up and taking selfies while a 2 month old calf is slammed to the ground and hog tied… I’m sure that’s what He would have done.”

Some Duggar fans fired back at the critics, claiming that the animals used in rodeos are treated like “royalty.” However, according to the Animal Legal Defense Fund website, electric spurs and other instruments designed to inflict pain are often used on bucking bulls and broncos. The animals violently kick their legs up and twist their bodies while while trying to unseat their unwanted riders, and these movements can cause back and leg injuries. Two of the images in Joy-Anna and Austin’s slideshow were taken during a bull riding competition.

Joy-Anna and Austin likely attended the Stockyards Championship Rodeo, an event that takes place every Friday and Saturday night. It includes tie-down roping, another controversial competition. During this event, riders on horseback chase young calves, lasso them, toss them on the ground, and tie their legs together. The calves used for this competition can suffer neck injuries and even death.

According to Austin Forsyth, he attended many rodeos before his family moved from Texas to Arkansas. The Fort Worth rodeo is the first that Joy-Anna Duggar attended with him, but her family also has a long history of enjoying the events. As reported by the Duggar Family Blog, Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar are such big rodeo fans that they decided to check one out during their recent anniversary trip to Hawaii.

[Featured Image by Austin and Joy Forsyth/Instagram]