Jinger Duggar allegedly went on a Talk Like a Pirate Day date with 23-year-old Bringing Up Bates star Lawson Bates. However, if this rumor is true, 21-year-old Jinger isn’t side-hugging and telling.
ETonline recently talked to Jinger Duggar’s cousin , Amy Duggar, about the rumors that Jinger and Lawson Bates are courting. Jinger and Lawson reportedly enjoyed each other’s company last Saturday, which just happened to be Talk Like a Pirate Day. As the Inquisitr previously reported, members of the Duggar family dressed up like pirates so that they could score 14 dozen free donuts during Krispy Kreme’s Talk Like a Pirate Day giveaway. Jinger wasn’t in the family photo that was posted on the Duggar Instagram page.
https://instagram.com/p/70iZFSmlUA/?taken-by=duggarfam
There’s photographic evidence that Lawson Bates also celebrated Talk Like a Pirate Day. He shared a picture of his buccaneer biceps on Instagram, and he let his followers know that he was also heading to Krispy Kreme to get donuts.
https://instagram.com/p/71hMzwvfRJ/?taken-by=lawbates
According to ETonline , Lawson Bates and Jinger Duggar went on a date “shortly after” the Duggar family was finished emptying the shelves of their local donut shop in Arkansas. Lawson’s family resides in Tennessee, but it’s possible that he and Jinger Duggar have started a long distance courtship. Jill Duggar and Derick Dillard proved that Skype is all you need to ignite a spark, and Jinger has the added benefit of brothers that can fly planes. The photo above looks like it was possibly taken at the Bates’ house in Tennessee. If this is the case, Lawson had to fly over to Arkansas fairly quickly to make that Talk Like a Pirate Day date with Jinger.
Amy Duggar was so excited about the possibility of Jinger dating Lawson that she immediately asked her cousin about the romance rumors upon arriving home from her honeymoon in Cancun.
“Girlfriend, What’s this about you being in love?” Amy asked Jinger.
Jinger Duggar didn’t confirm the rumors that she and Lawson Bates are courting, but she didn’t deny them, either. She reportedly laughed at her cousin’s question and said, “Rumors are rumors!”
The latest round of Duggar dating rumors started after fans noticed Jinger Duggar standing suspiciously close to Lawson Bates in the photo below that was shared on the Duggar Family Official Facebook page. It was taken at Amy Duggar’s wedding. Jinger and Lawson are on the far right side of the photo standing next to the table.
Jinger Duggar can also be seen in the background in a photo that Lawson recently tweeted.
Gonna miss you bro! Safe travels back to Indonesia?? pic.twitter.com/FgByYI2sJ8
— Lawson Bates (@lawbates) September 14, 2015
If Jinger and Lawson are actually courting, there are a number of reasons they might want to keep their relationship a secret. For one thing, they might want a little privacy while they decide whether they’re serious about continuing their courtship. Jessa Duggar and Jill Duggar’s kiss-free, chaperoned relationships were both documented on 19 Kids and Counting , and both girls went on the get married. However, Josiah Duggar wasn’t so lucky. As the Inquisitr previously reported, he and Marjorie Jackson decided to end their courtship in the wake of the Josh Duggar sexual molestation scandal. Perhaps Jinger doesn’t want the whole world to know if her own courtship fails.
It’s also possible that the couple doesn’t want details of their relationship leaked because it’s going to be filmed for TV. The show 19 Kids and Counting has been cancelled, and TLC is currently only filming TV specials about Jinger’s older sisters, Jill and Jessa . However, Lawson’s family has their own reality series on UPtv titled Bringing Up Bates , and the network seemingly doesn’t have an issue with allowing the Duggar daughters to appear on the show. Jana Duggar was a bridesmaid at Michael Bates’ wedding, so viewers will at least get a glimpse of her when Bringing Up Bates returns this January . The entire Duggar family was invited to attend the event, so there’s a chance that they’ll also get a little camera time.
The rumors of a Jinger Duggar and Lawson Bates courtship seemingly pop up anytime they’re spotted together. As the Inquisitr previously reported, there was talk that the two might be dating back in January when they both attended the same anti-abortion rally . However, it’s possible that Jinger and Lawson only spend so much time together because their parents are good pals who share similar religious and political views.
Do you think that Jinger Duggar and Lawson Bates would make a cute courting couple? For a refresher on courtship, check out the video below.
[Featured Image credits: Duggar Family Instagram, Lawson Bates Instagram]