Unfortunately, the number of Josh Duggar’s family allies is not zero, as one would expect given the situation.
In 2021, a jury of his peers convicted disgraced former reality star Josh Duggar of receiving and possessing child sexual abuse material (CSAM). He is now serving his prison sentence.
Some members of the Duggar family have strongly condemned Josh for being a predator and much more. Others are clearly sympathetic to him.
Where are the Duggars? Who are your allies in the family?
Anna Duggar, his wife
Unfortunately, it’s no news or surprise to anyone that Anna Duggar has remained a steadfast ally of Josh Duggar. The distorted teachings of your fundamentalist church teach you that there are no alternatives.
This goes further staying married to Josh despite his cheating, his past crimes, and of course his CSAM conviction and prison sentence.
Their religion teaches that she must obey her husband as part of the natural order of things that their God has ordained. “Betraying” Josh would then be “betraying” her faith.
Anna even created conspiracy theories, blaming President Biden (who wasn’t yet in office when Homeland Security raided Josh’s workplace), among others.
The Duggar family has insinuated that Josh’s past scandals were exposed due to spiritual warfare, literally blaming the real devil for exposing the truth in 2015.
Anna, at least, appears to still be holding on to those beliefs – visiting Josh as a loyal wife while he remains in prison where he belongs.
Jessa Duggar
Not all of Josh’s sexual abuse victims have come forward. But years before Josh downloaded material about child sexual abuse, he himself sexually abused five girls – including four of his own sisters. Jessa came forward in 2015 to identify herself as one of the victims.
Initially, after Josh’s arrest, Jessa and her husband Ben Seewald made very ambivalent statements about waiting for the outcome of the trial.
Jessa and Ben’s public statements have emphasized sympathy for children who are abused for CSAM. They had much less to say in public about Josh himself. This may have less to do with Josh than with keeping the peace with other relatives.
Jill Duggar
In contrast to Jessa, Jill Duggar has been candid — about Josh Duggar and more. However, like Jessa, she identified herself as one of Josh’s victims. In 2015, she insisted she was sharing this of her own free will.
However, as time went on, Jill admitted that she felt enormous pressure to speak out at the time. The Duggars’ insular nature and their TLC-based “celebrity” status meant that protecting the family’s image took precedence over Josh’s victims, as did the cover-up of his crimes when he was a teenager.
In December 2021, Jill confirmed the jury’s verdict that found Josh guilty. Although Jill is apparently at odds with several family members, it’s clear that she is not one of Josh Duggar’s family allies.
Jinger Duggar
Immediately following Josh Duggar’s arrest, Jinger and her husband, Jeremy Vuolo, condemned child abuse. They, however, did not rush to condemn Josh as he so richly deserves.
However, Jinger is also not one of Josh Duggar’s family allies. And not just because she doesn’t agree with several of her family’s teachings.
According to your book, Becoming truly freeJinger hadn’t spoken to Josh for two years at the time of the book’s publication.
Jason Duggar
Unlike some of his sisters, Jason Duggar hasn’t avoided the subject of Josh or posted vaguely about him.
Jason supports the verdict against Josh, even noting that Josh could have received a harsher sentence. However, he also stated his love for Josh.
In a Instagram Posting in the story, Jason declared, “I will never stop loving my brother no matter what he does, just as my savior forgave me, I have also forgiven my brother for his mistakes!” This is a Christian message which is also precisely how their religion encourages its members to ignore the mistakes of the evil men in their midst.
Joy-Anna Duggar
Along with husband Austin Forsyth, Joy-Anna released a statement following Josh Duggar’s well-deserved conviction.
“We agree with the court system’s verdict and are grateful to the men and women who work tirelessly to protect children and help prevent child sexual abuse material,” the Forysths said. “Our hearts are broken for all the victims of CSAM.”
Additionally, Joy-Anna asked for prayers for Anna and Anna’s children. Joy is not alone in this feeling.
Jim Bob Duggar and Michelle Duggar
With the sole exception of Anna Duggar, no one seemed to support Josh more than Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar.
This toxic couple has visited Josh in prison. It is widely believed that Jim Bob financed Josh’s defense. And, of course, Jim Bob orchestrated the cover-up of Josh’s initial crimes against his sisters – paving the way for him to escape justice until, finally, he committed a crime that his father was unable to hide.
Of course, Josh is also a victim. From his religious “counseling” as a teenager to the cover-up that hid his crimes as a teenager, Josh grew up in the perfect hunting ground for a budding predator. Jim Bob didn’t really help him much.