When the icon of an evangelical American family ‘19 Kids & Counting‘ reality show quipped that the LGBT community is a threat to children, they were hailed as an exemplary family to many enjoying their TLC-produced Reality TV show. Their position was further reaffirmed by the eldest son of the clan, Josh Duggar who is the Executive Director of anti-gay Family Research Council (FRC) political wing, with a mission to fight gay marriage in the United States.
A bombshell was dropped on Thursday, 21st May, when Josh confessed that he had molested 5 under-aged girls as a teenager, some of whom were his sisters, according to Yahoo Health.
The 27-year-old father of 3 kids with one to be delivered in July admitted that when he was 14 years old, he fondled the breast and genitalia of minors including his sisters.
In the wake of accusations that Josh Duggar molested several underage girls years ago, TLC pulled ’19 Kids and Counting’ from its schedule on Friday, 22nd May.
“We are deeply saddened and troubled by this heartbreaking situation,” TLC said.
“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,” the network said in a statement late Friday.
TMZ also reported that the patriarch of the clan, Bob Duggar came to know about this and took about a year to report it to the authorities but was contradicted by his wife Michelle who said that the ‘authorities’ meant the church leadership. The church leadership did not give counselling to him and instead, he was sent to stay with a family friend to straighten him out.
According to Right Wing Watch, both the Duggars and FRC constantly paints the LGBT community as a threat to children and the Duggars reality show is never shy to mince words reiterating that gays are a threat to children.
TMZ further confirmed that Josh Duggar has resigned from FRC, a non governmental organization closely associated with the evangelicals in America.
Yahoo Health says children who sustain sexual abuses often have mental health problems and suffer a resultant lifetime trauma.
