They face $25 million (€23 million) loss in future earnings

Aug 5, 2015 10:35 GMT  ·  By
The Duggars are growing desperate because they're going broke, says new report
2 photos
   The Duggars are growing desperate because they're going broke, says new report

TLC took its time before pulling the plug on the Duggars’ hit reality series 19 Kids and Counting in light of the child molestation scandal, but it finally happened last month. Since then, reports have been saying that the Duggars felt like they got dealt a bad hand in this and that the network should have stuck by them.

Admittedly, they also wanted back on TV because they thought it was part of “God’s plan,” but fresh reports indicate that God had nothing to do with their desire. Money did: the Duggars are going broke.

A $25 million (€23 million) loss in future earnings

A piece on Uproxx notes that the cancelation of 19 Kids and Counting will translate into a $25 million (€23 million) loss in future earnings for the family, as they were getting paid $45,000 (€41,455) per episode.

However, that amount doesn’t include the fees they charged for extra appearances not related to the show but made possible because of it. To put it bluntly, since police records became public and exposed the eldest son, Josh Duggar, as a child molester, few are the industry players who would still be associated with them, which means that the money they would have paid them before is now gone.

TLC would have probably not canceled the show if advertisers hadn’t already started dropping like flies after the molestation became public knowledge.

“The Duggar arc is sinking fast, and they’re growing desperate. After all, it costs an estimated $245,000 [€225,702] to raise a child. The Duggars don’t believe in allowing their daughters to work, and the entire family’s skillset is limited,” Uproxx says.

The Duggars are desperate

It’s very likely that the Duggars won’t ever find another network to call home for a reality show. They still have a very loyal fanbase though, and to these fans they’re turning now, in hope they might help them out of the pickle.

The report notes that the Duggars YouTube channel was updated a few days ago to include a donations button. Presumably, they asked for money in order to be able to provide better content. We’ll never know what they plan to do with it now, because the donations button was deleted when people lashed out against them on Twitter.

Those who wish to support them can do so by buying their merchandise, because that offer is still available.

The Duggars, much like Honey Boo Boo and her family, will probably be cast aside by the great machine that is the industry of reality television. They might try to make a comeback, but once you’ve gone so high up, the fall is that much harder to recover from.

Duggars ask for donations after TLC cancelation (2 Images)

The Duggars are growing desperate because they're going broke, says new report
Duggars asked for donations on YouTube, before being called out for it
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