14 DAY TRIAL // Jessa Duggar and her husband Ben Seewald are the first Duggar family members to make a public appearance after the latest scandal involving Josh Duggar, the eldest son of Jim Bob and Michelle. Josh is currently in a “long-term treatment center” after he was caught cheating on his wife Anna through infidelity website Ashley Madison.
This is the second scandal involving Josh in almost 3 months, with the first one also costing the family their reality show on TLC, 19 Kids and Counting: it consisted of police records revealing Josh had molested 5 minor girls when he was a teen, 4 of them being his sisters.
Jessa Duggar, now-Seewald, is refusing to let all this stop her from living her life.
Jessa emerges for promotional event
For the first time since the latest Josh scandal broke almost 2 weeks ago, Jessa has stepped out in public, for a meet and greet with fans at the Southern Women’s Show in Charlotte, North Carolina. The appearance actually served to promote her book “Growing Up Duggar: It’s All About the Relationships.”
You can see a photo from the event attached to this post, with Jessa and Ben on stage, addressing the fans.
She also spoke to People Magazine, and while she didn’t get into the details of the latest on Josh, she let it be known that she was doing alright in the aftermath.
“You just have to keep your focus and trust God,” she told the celebrity publication. “You have to stay true to yourself and your foundation,” Ben echoed during a Q&A with fans.
He also revealed that, despite the spectacular fall from grace of the Duggar family, he and Jessa would not be opposed to going on a reality show on their own, should the opportunity ever present itself. “We live a peaceful, quiet life, but I wouldn't rule it out if people were interested in our family,” he said.
Preparing for the baby
Despite an earlier report saying that Jessa was feeling very resentful towards Josh because he had “ruined” what she believed would be her big moment on TV (i.e. coverage on TLC of her pregnancy), she told People that she was enjoying her pregnancy to the maximum and there was nothing to cloud it.
She and Ben have the nursery ready but wouldn’t say how they arranged it because they don’t want to reveal whether they’re having a boy or a girl. Because their home is small, the nursery will double as the guest room.
Jessa Duggar and her sister Jill will be seen next on TLC, on the documentary “Breaking the Silence,” which tells the story of survivors of child abuse and is scheduled to air tonight, Sunday, August 30, 2015.