Joke from 2008 on siblings dating goes viral, draws more ire

May 26, 2015 07:19 GMT  ·  By
Josh Duggar comes under fire again, making incest joke after molestation case closed
   Josh Duggar comes under fire again, making incest joke after molestation case closed

Josh Duggar admitted last week that, from 2002 through to 2003, when he was a teenager, he molested 5 minor girls, some of whom were his sisters. His parents knew about the whole thing and kept it a secret until 2006, when the police got involved.

No charges were ever filed because the statute of limitations had expired and the victims weren’t willing to go on the record against Josh, telling authorities that they had forgiven him. So, in 2008, he was making incest jokes in front of the camera, for the family’s reality show.

Older video emerges, infuriates

So in 2008, during an episode of the TLC show that was then called 17 Kids and Counting (now 19 Kids and Counting), Josh make a crack about how it’s ok for siblings to date because they’re from Arkansas after all.

You can see the video below: it re-emerged online some hours ago, and what was then deemed an innocent jab at a misconception is now regarded in light of the molestation charges.

Josh is talking about dating his then-fiancée Anna, now his wife, and how they needed a chaperone for a date. As fans must know, the Duggars have a particular set of rules for all kinds of romantic manifestations, which include a courtship for the future spouses, during which time they’re chaperoned and are not allowed to kiss, touch or act inappropriately.

Because Josh’s sister Jinger couldn’t chaperon them, he got siblings Jana and John David Duggar to do it, calling it a “double date.”

He then jokes about being from Arkansas, which would somehow excuse dating among siblings, and he obviously finds the joke hilarious. Until the shocking allegations, perhaps everyone else did too, but things are different now: the joke comes 2 years after the police investigation and 5-6 years after he groped and inappropriately touched his sisters, both when they were awake and at night, while they were sleeping.

Josh Duggar might be cut from 19 Kids and Counting

In the aftermath of the molestation scandal, TLC pulled the reality show from its schedule, but not before running a Josh-heavy marathon. As criticism against the network increased, a statement announced that the program was going on a temporary hiatus, while its future was being discussed.

TLC is yet to say whether 19 Kids and Counting will be canceled for good, but rumor has it that they’re considering cutting only Josh and Anna loose, so that they can keep the Duggar brand alive.

Lest advertisers don’t step down, TLC is confident the Duggars’ impressive fanbase will help them through this and keep them on the air. Right now, the Duggars’ reality show is the biggest hit on TLC.