[Warning: Potentially Triggering Content]
Amy Duggar King has THOUGHTS on the latest Duggar family scandal!
In a scathing statement on Friday obtained by People, Amy reacted to her cousin Joseph Duggar‘s arrest earlier this week, in which he was charged with two counts of child sex abuse for a 2020 incident with a then-9-year-old girl in Florida. Really icky stuff.
Related: Jill Duggar Dillard & Family React To Joseph’s Arrest & Molestation Charge: ‘Shocked’
Amy’s thoughts were first and foremost with the victim:
“My first thoughts are with the victim, a child who deserved to be safe, protected and surrounded by people she could trust. The courage it took for her to come forward, especially after years of carrying something so heavy, cannot be overstated. That bravery deserves to be honored above all else.”
The 39-year-old went on to say that she’s “utterly shocked to hear about these allegations and Joseph’s arrest,” but she added:
“At the same time, I am not surprised that another alleged predator has emerged from this toxic system.”
Oof. Of course, Joseph’s arrest comes after his older brother Josh Duggar was arrested and found guilty of being in possession of child pornography. He also previously admitted to molesting several young girls, including some of his sisters. Amy’s been outspoken about her family ever since. And she once again didn’t hold back, doubling down:
“For years, I have spoken out about the importance of truth, accountability and protecting children, even when it meant going against my own family. Family ties should never equal automatic trust or access, especially when it comes to the safety of children. When an image is protected over truth, and silence is chosen over accountability, it creates an environment where abuse can thrive.”
She continued:
“I have worked hard to break cycles in both my extended family and my immediate family. My boundaries are in place for a reason, and I have used my voice to expose the darkness and advocate for the protection of children, a journey I wrote about in Holy Disruptor: Shattering the Shiny Facade by Getting Louder with the Truth as a way to help others recognize harmful patterns, speak the truth and find their voice in toxic systems.”
She concluded by circling back to the victim:
“[I’m] praying for the victim and her family as they walk through what is sure to be an incredibly difficult road ahead. Recognizing that we do not yet know the full picture, I am also praying for Joseph’s wife, Kendra, as she begins to process this, and for the protection of their children. I’m praying for eyes to be opened and above all, I pray that justice will be served to the fullest.”
Amy also shared her statement on Instagram. Take a look:
View this post on Instagram
(@amyrachelleking)Such an awful situation. But she’s so right, change needs to be made to protect more children from these heinous crimes!
If you have sincere cause to suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org.
If you or someone you know has experienced sexual violence and would like to learn more about resources, consider checking out https://www.rainn.org/resources.
[Image via Washington County Sheriff’s Department & Amy Duggar King/Instagram]
The post Amy Duggar Says She's 'Not Surprised' By Joseph's Arrest In Scathing Statement appeared first on Perez Hilton.