When Josh Duggar was arrested on child pornography charges back in April of 2019, those who were familiar with his backstory were not terribly surprised.
After all, the 34-year-old had a very long history of sexual deviancy and predatory behavior.
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For many years, we have all understood how cult-approved homeschooling failed the Duggar children.
Little moments from the infamous family’s erstwhile reality TV career have served as glaring reminders.
Fans have recently revisted a number of moments, including the signage put up by Michelle to instruct her children.
When there’s a glaring spelling error plastered on the wall, what kind of education are the kids getting?
Superintendent is not the easiest word in the world to spell, but Michelle is a grown woman.
“SuperIntendant” is written next to her name, on a document posted to remind her children of the basic rules for homeschooling.
Duggar critics on social media are getting a hearty chuckle over the mistake, though some point out that it’s not really funny.
Look, we all know that people make typos every single day. The same extends to writing by hand.
The more that you write, the more typos that you make because you have more opportunities to make them.
Additionally, people are more likely to make simple spelling errors while making signs than they are during normal writing.
So yes, of course the Duggars make little errors — in spelling and beyond.
(I mean, most of us would double-check things in an educational context, especially before filming a reality show, but that’s neither here nor there)
But … just because they do something like the rest of the world does doesn’t mean that their blunders happen for the same reasons.
The Duggars are known for many things, but especially for their toxic restrictions about clothing, gender roles, and human sexuality.
Education is not that much of a priority, however.
When it comes to their children learning, the focus is more upon what the Duggars do not learn — sex education, human rights, important notes of science and history — than what they do.
The Duggar children cannot learn about the real world in useful ways, not in the ways that everyone else does.
Simply put, the extremes of growing up in a fundamentalist cult require near-total isolation.
Any unsupervised contact with people dressing or speaking normally could lead to the Duggars realizing that the outside world is not so scary, and forming their own ideas.
There is another angle to all of this, which is that giving their children a real education — even if it didn’t mean contact with their peers — would give them more options.
The Duggar cult emphasizes marrying them off as soon as they legally can, cementing their role before they have a chance to try something else.
Many of the husbands work within the cult. Someone going to a university and finding their own, independent job would be a threat — a threat nipped in the bud by their shoddy homeschooling.
So when the Duggars have these little slip-ups, we are all reminded of the opportunities denied to the children.
All 19 of Jim Bob and Michelle’s children were born with the same intrinsic rights as everyone else. Many — most — of those were denied by their parents.
Instead of getting a series of qualified teachers from different backgrounds, they had “SuperIntendant” Michelle. It’s a tragedy.
Well, this is horrifying. Not that we’re terribly surprised to learn there’s even more about Josh Duggar still to come out… Back in 2015 there was the one-two punch of learning the 19 Kids and Counting star had cheated on his wife using the Ashley Madison website. He even admitted to it in a public apology — before […]
The post ANOTHER Porn Star Says Josh Duggar Paid Her For Sex — And Asked For Horrifying Stuff! appeared first on Perez Hilton.
Earlier this week, we reported on the news that an adult film star claims to have slept with Josh Duggar during his marriage to Anna Duggar.
The performer, who goes by the stage name Karlie Brooks, claims that the sexual encounter took place around…
In recent weeks, present and former Duggar fans have been looking upon once-overlooked moments in the family history in a new light.
From seeing the way that the Duggar daughters’ upbringing impacted them for life to foreboding scenes with the Duggar parents, there’s a lot to digest.
One of the latest points of interest is an old clip of Jill Duggar with her husband, Derick Dillard.
Fans find Derick’s rant off-putting, and think that Jill was weirded out … but what they’re seeing may just be the result of a lifetime of conditioning.
In this throwback clip, which is under discussion by social media users, Jill and Derick were at a restaurant.
For whatever reason, Derick decided to wax philosophical about what it means to be married.
“Marriage is like lifelong learning,” he announced, comparing the relationship to scholastic pursuits.
Already married and already parents, Derick continued the analogy.
“So right now I have my high school diploma in Jill Dillard,” he characterized.
“But I want to study you more,” Derick continued, “and get my Bachelor’s and Master’s.”
“Eventually I’d like a PhD in Jill Dillard,” Derick went on.
“So,” he continued, “I can think what you’re thinking before you even think it.”
That’s a goofy analogy, and the last line could be a little off-putting even if it was well-intentioned.
What really struck people who are revisiting the clip is Jill’s demeanor during it.
Jill seems to smile awkwardly while Derick is speaking.
Some fans think that she may have been as uncomfortable listening to her husband speak as they were.
Discussions took place in Reddit comments as people mused over Jill’s thoughts at the time.
One wrote: “I can just hear Jill internal dialogue, ‘Okay smile and pretend he’s being sweet and amusing even though he’s making zero sense.'”
“I’m not sure I want my husband to think what I’m thinking before I think it,” another commented. “Seems like that could be a major problem.”
It is certainly possible that Jill, despite not having any work experience due to the cult’s beliefs, was doing the wifely version of a “customer service face.”
Countless cashiers and waiters have had to stand and smile and listen while customers spout absolute nonsense at them.
We don’t mean toxic customers yelling — well, not only that. Sometimes a person will stop by a deli counter and spend 20 minutes talking about being guided by angels.
As we said, Jill has not had those exact experiences.
From birth, she was groomed to be a wife and a mother and a Christian, nothing more.
But hearing someone ramble nonsense in your face may be a universal experience. Even — perhaps especially — for cultists.
One cannot help but wonder if the apparent discomfort that viewers are perceiving is due to projection, however.
Jill’s expression could be explained by the cult’s teachings, demanding that women radiantly smile at and adore their husbands in visible ways at all times.
Instead of simply listening to Derick, Jill may have felt that she had to overact herself paying rapt attention to his every word. She may have missed the mark a little, though.
A woman named Karlie Brooks has come out and claimed she carried on an affair with Josh Duggar.
This, in and of itself, is not news.
The father of seven, remember, confessed in 2015 to having slept around often behind his wife’s back, admitting h…
Last month, Josh Duggar was sentenced to 12 and a half years in federal prison for the crimes of receiving and possessing child pornography.
Just one week later, Josh filed an appeal seeking a new trial with the hope of overturning his conviction.
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These days, Jinger Duggar and Jeremy Vuolo are living cozy lives in Los Angeles, arranging “paparazzi” pics to boost their image and brand.
Years ago, before they were married parents getting chastised for wearing normal clothes, they were in a courtship.
Those who have followed the Duggars for a long time have been reliving some of the family’s past moments, often viewing old scenes through a new lens.
Recently, fans noticed something a little alarming — and a lot sad — about Jinger.
We all know that the Duggar family raises its daughters in a certain way.
Their toxic cult grooms daughters to fulfill the role of wife and mother and nothing else.
A huge part of keeping their children from making their own choices is preventing them from dating or having normal social experiences.
Why is this relevant?
Namely, because the moment from Counting On would never have happened if Jinger had been allowed to grow and develop as her own person.
Denied her basic human rights by her family’s extreme views, her antics during her courtship with Jeremy were … more than a little odd.
In a scene revisted by redditors, Jinger was out in the woods with her family.
She was dwelling on her courtship (some have called it a “romance,” but it really hadn’t earned that label yet) with Jeremy Vuolo.
Not yet married, never permitted to date, she snapped a simple chaste selfie to send his way.
Jinger explained that she was “taking pictures and videos” to send to Jeremy.
Right now, she and Jeremy are parents to three-year-old Felicity and one-year-old Evangeline.
But in the clip — recorded when Jinger was already a grown woman, ableit not a married mother of two — Jinger seemed childish and immature in ways that were not her fault.
Commenters on Reddit could not help but notice how Jinger’s attitudes seemed more like those of “a middle schooler” who was nursing a “huge crush.”
“It makes me so sad seeing her like this,” one expressed.
This second commenter detailed: “It comes off immature to an extent.”
“With her age at that moment,” the commenter went on, “this seems like how a girl who was in middle school crushing on someone.”
“Not in her early 20s courting a douchebag,” the redditor explained.
The comment concluded: “God, her parents f–ked her up.” True.
“She is behaving like a middle schooler with a crush,” another characterized.
This is “because that is the stage her parents let her get to.”
This third commenter lamented: “It’s so screwed up.”
“Jinger was annoying in that episode,” wrote another.
“She talked nonstop about how much she missed Jeremy,” they complained.
Another chimed in: “Jinger sings to the pillow wearing Jeremy’s Major League Soccer jersey, ‘whispers hello, I’ve missed you quite terribly.'”
Most of us understand the Duggar family, church, and cult much better than we did when Counting On was first airing.
Similarly, most of us have had more time to observe and understand how this toxic upbringing has impacted the Duggar children for life.
Deprived a real education, socialization, or a chance for authentic psychological and emotional development, they are easier to control.
It also means that they don’t get to learn how to fumble through relationships. They cannot develop emotionally or sexually at their own pace.
Awkward moments, like Jinger acting more like a tween with a crush than a grown woman messaging her future husband, are a natural consequence.
This awkwardness is also part of the plan. People who cannot engage or relate to outsiders will only feel comfortable talking to fellow cult members.
Last month, Josh Duggar was sentenced to 12 and a half years in federal prison in connection with an earlier conviction on child pornography charges.
Cousin Amy Duggar predicted that prison will be “hell” for Josh, and she’s probably right.
Sex o…
Amy Duggar really is trying.
She swears that she is.
But no matter howo many times Jim Bob’s niece tries to reach out to Jim Bob’s daughter-in-law, Amy said in a very recent TikTok exchange that her efforts get rebuked.
The question is why.
…
Josh Duggar is hoping for a legal miracle.
On June 3, lawyers for the disgraced reality star officially filed paperwork to appeal their client’s conviction on one count of child pornography possession.
The filing states that Duggar “hereby appeal…
More details about what post-prison life will be like for Josh Duggar have been revealed… As you know, the former reality star was found guilty of receiving and possessing child pornography in December 2021. Since the possession charge was dropped on May 25, he was then sentenced to just 151 months in prison instead of […]
The post Josh Duggar Not Allowed To Be Alone With His Own Children After Prison! appeared first on Perez Hilton.
Deanna Duggar has surprisingly broken her silence on the conviction of her nephew — going against her brother Jim Bob’s code of silence. As we reported, Josh Duggar was sentenced to 12.5 years in prison for his disgusting crimes of receiving and possessing child pornography. Josh’s aunt was left in the dark about a lot […]
The post Josh Duggar’s Aunt Bucks Jim Bob’s Code Of Silence, Says Nephew Needs ‘Psychological Help’ appeared first on Perez Hilton.
Another relative of Josh Duggar has spoken out on his prison sentence.
On Friday, the convictied sex offender’s aunt, Deanna, spoke to The Sun, revealing for the first time since Josh’s conviction and subsequent sentencing exactly where she stands …
For most people, a stance against wearing pants simply means wanting to feel comfortable in their own homes. Not so for the Duggars.
Amy Rachelle King, better known as Amy Duggar, was labeled the “wild cousin” because she had a modicum of personal freedom. Namely, she wore pants.
While Jim Bob imposed many restrictions upon Amy, her slightly more normal way of life led to judgment from her cousins when they were younger.
It’s not their fault, Amy says. They were raised to think that everything normal is abnormal.
Amy Duggar spoke to The Sun about the cultural right that she felt growing up around her cousins.
The extreme fundamentalists of her family considered her to be living an “immodest style” of life, from her clothing to her habits.
Deanna raised her with less strict rules, so “I was in jeans and bright colored shirts climing trees,” Amy recalled.
“I was a wild tomboy,” Amy described. “I loved nature and being outside.”
She detailed: “I loved music, I could date. I would do all the things normal kids and teenagers would do.”
Amy admitted: “I was extremely known as the black sheep. They would never say black sheep, but I was like the wild cousin.”
Amy acknowledged that her clothing, hobbies, and interests simply made her a “normal, regular person.”
But in the eyes of her cousins, she was somehow a “bad, wild girl.”
Amy expressed: “I was like what the heck? Why am I wild in their eyes?”
This “wild” label ended up meaning that there were special rules about how she could interact with her own family.
“I couldn’t spend the night, they couldn’t be in my car,” she lamented.
Amy added: “There were several things that I was like, ‘What did I do? Why am I so wrong?’
Of course, when cousin Josh Duggar’s molestation of his sisters and a babysitter was revealed in 2015, things started to click.
Some of these rules were intended to shame her, but some may have been “invisible” safety rules to keep her from being alone with a predator.
“Now I see it as more of a protective measure,” Amy suggested.
Amy did admit that she “absolutely” felt like her cousins were judging her simply for being herself.
She takes it with a grain of salt however.
Given the toxic atmosphere in which Jim Bob and Michelle raised them, Amy explained that her cousins “just didn’t know better.”
“I’m a little different than they were,” Amy explained. “But it didn’t make me wrong.”
The issue was simply that her cousins didn’t have any real experiences with a normal, free person.
“I wasn’t wearing what they were wearing,” Amy described. “I wasn’t talking the way they were talking.”
“I could watch TV,” Amy noted.
She added: “I could go to the movies and mall, and they honestly couldn’t.”
“It set me apart without really trying to,” Amy went on. “They were sheltered growing up.”
Of course, part of the point of the Duggar lifestyle is to create a group of siblings so insulated that they find anything outside of the cult to be strange and foreign.
Normally, people who encounter different people and lifestyles get to understand them by simply talking to them, working with them, and learning.
For fundamentalist cultists who are not given the opportunity to do this, the only response is to close ranks and cast judgments.
Deanna also spoke about Amy’s upbringing.
“I am so proud of Amy,” she gushed about her daughter. “She’s such a strong woman.”
Deanna praised: “She has become an amazing woman to take a stand like this.”
“I gave Amy freedom to choose what she wanted to do like dances,” Deanna noted.
“I was raised more conservative so it was nice to see Amy have that freedom,” she commented.
“My mother was conservative in her thinking,” Deanna recalled. “I was not allowed to go to dances, but I let Amy go to dances.”
Deanna very correctly emphasized: “It’s important to give your kids the freedom to make choices.”
Amy also commented on how cousins like Jana, Jill, and Jinger are now wearing jeans, short dresses, and participating in society in other ways.
“I’m very proud of them. They’re all very sweet,” Amy praised. “They’re growing and evolving. We’re all doing that. It’s exciting to see.”
The more we find out about the Duggars’ response to Josh’s arrest on child pornography charges, the more it becomes apparent that he was only able to get away with so much because of the manner in which he was enabled by those around him.
When Josh…
