The Duggars need no introduction in the US. They are the most popular family of Arkansas not because they are philanthropists or very big business tycoons, but because they’re reality TV stars. Some of the Duggars have millions of fans all over the world. The Duggars are a religiously devout family and staunchly believe in Christianity. They’ve raised their kids like that too. But there’s always a catch in the things which seem ideal at first glance.

The Duggars profess and preach about ethics and values on their national television but they too have their limitations. Limitations that have maligned their name. And that is because not everyone can adhere to such a strict course of actions. Ranging from Duggar Sr. to Duggar Jr., everyone has conducted themselves in ways that completely go against what they so rightfully preach on their show. And it was due to such activities that the show “19 Kids and Counting” was taken off-air. Even though it was one of TLC’s highest grossing shows, it was brought down owing to many complaints. It’s no wonder that they could not continue with the show. So let us have a look at the 15 facts that irreversibly tarnished the Duggar family’s reputation. 

15. Ashley Madison fan in the Duggar House

In the eyes of people, Josh Duggar was a true follower of Christianity and someone who always has respect for the sanctity of marriage. However, in 2015, the world came to know that Josh had an account on Ashley Madison, an online dating website for adulterers. A team of hackers released the Ashley Madison secret data, and Duggar fans were shocked to see their beloved Josh’s name on the list of users. “I have been the biggest hypocrite ever…I am so ashamed of the double life that I have been living and am grieved for the hurt, pain and disgrace my sin has caused my wife and family, and most of all Jesus and all those who profess faith in Him,” Josh’s statement reads. It’s disgusting!

14. Sued by an Adult Entertainment Star

Adult entertainment actress, Danica Dillon, filed a lawsuit against Josh Duggar claiming that he had physically assaulted her while having consensual sex. According to Danica, she received $1,500 from Josh to have sex at a hotel in Philadelphia. During their sexual intercourse, Josh turned very aggressive and she was shocked by his behaviour. “He threw me on the bed and, in all honesty, though it was consensual it more or less felt like I was being raped,” Danica told in an interview. She said that Josh forced her to have oral sex with him. However, Josh rejected Danica’s claim and later she dropped her lawsuit.

13. You Must Go Through Jim Bob First To Date His Daughters

Jim Bob Duggar looks like a cool daddy, but he is not so cool when it comes to dating. A guy must take Jim Bob’s permission before saying “I love you” to any of the Duggar girls. This fact may sound awkward for most Americans, but for the Duggars it’s just another simple rule that they have been following without any objection. “The girls have always said they would send any guy who was interested in them to Dad. That’s a good thing – that is such good protection for them,” Michelle Duggar was reported saying. In fact, there are hundreds of guys who send emails and letters to Jim Bob asking for his daughter’s hand.

12. Mom and Dad monitor their kids through group chat

Have you shown your fiancé’s messages to your mom? Of course you never have. That’s your private life and moreover, it might have some explicit content too. And as it is, no one has the right to snoop on your phone. That is just not the case in the Duggar family. The girls are not allowed to chat with their boyfriends unless they have included their parents on the same chat. Jessa’s fiancé Ben Seewald was living far away from the Duggar’s place, so he asked her parents whether he can keep in touch with her through text messages. Senior Duggars gave a nod to his request but asked him to follow the Duggar family rule. Perhaps, it was a group chat for Ben! Once Jessa mentioned that he can call her when he gets time, unfortunately, Jim Bob noticed her message and texted back “No rings yet.”

11. Can’t Kiss Before The Wedding Day

Most people in a relationship have no hesitation when kissing their partner. No doubt, it’s a symbol of love and there is nothing wrong in it. But in the Duggar’s house, a young man or a woman, for that matter, can not kiss their partner before tying the wedding knot. Because they believe that the first kiss is something very precious, and the couple must wait for it till their wedding day. Duggar girls including Jessa, Jinger, Jill sincerely follow this rule and have no complaints about it. In fact, they were not even allowed to have a chest to chest hug. “We believe it’s best for them to save the physical part for marriage. That way there are no regrets,” said Michelle.

10. Must Look Conservative and Traditional At All Times

You will never find a Duggar girl in a sexy outfit. The family is very strict about what their girls wear. In fact, the Duggar girls avoid mini skirts too. They always make sure that their clothes cover their cleavage, thighs, and shoulders. However, they are absolutely fine with facial makeup, and are even known for their distinctive hairstyle. They believe that makeup ‘honors the Lord’ and it’s totally understandable if you may not accept this line of thinking. “My daughters are the second generation which exhibits modest dressing in this family. They’ve grown up being dressed modestly,” Michelle said while explaining about her daughter’s dress code. “We don’t believe in defrauding others by the way we dress,” she added. Duggars’ daughter-in-law Anna respects the family’s dress code and rules.

9. Ignorant stance on Homosexuality

The Duggar’s eldest son Josh Duggar was widely criticized for his controversial statements on same-sex marriage. The whole family was under fire multiple times for not having a favorable view towards homosexuality. Around 70,000 people signed an online petition that urged TLC to cancel their family show “19 Kids & Counting” since they felt that the Duggars are spreading anti-gay thoughts all around the world. On their Facebook page, the Duggars asked married couples to take a picture and share with them, and in this regard a fan claimed that he had sent a picture of him along with his same-sex partner but it was not accepted.

8. Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar Used Contraceptives

According to the Duggars, God decides how many kids a couple must have. So, it’s clear that kids are a blessing and no one should stop their arrival on earth. But imagine our shock when we found out that they the Duggars used contraceptives in the early years of their marriage! Yes, the Duggars have admitted this fact. Michelle and Jim decided not to have kids when they were a young couple, so Michelle started taking birth control pills. Unfortunately, those pills cause miscarriage and Michelle was unaware of this fact. “Michelle got pregnant while she was on the pill, and the pill caused her to miscarry. We talked to a Christian doctor and he explained that the pill could be abortive. However, after one miscarriage, we decided to stop rejecting God’s gifts,” Jim Bob’s blog post reads.

7. No Care for their premature newborn

Yes, Michelle did that! Women are expected to take ample amount of rest after giving birth to a baby, but irrespective of all that, Michelle went out to join a public meeting that was held by the local Alcoholic Beverage Control Board. Michelle and Jim Bob raised their voice against a gas station that sought a license to sell alcohol in Arkansas, which is the town where the Duggar’s live. While the Duggars were busy at this said meeting, their premature baby Josie was in the hospital and she was just one pound, six ounces at birth. No one expected that a mother of 19 kids will take such risky decision. And of course, fans criticized the Duggars on social media unconditionally.

6. Michelle’s Awkward Marriage Tips

While speaking to the Today magazine, Michelle shared some awkward tips for married couples. In her opinion, a wife must make sure that she is always available to meet her husband’s “physical need of love”, no matter how badly she is tired with work. It was an advice that she received from a friend before getting married to Jim Bob and she has been following it sincerely. “In your marriage there will be times when you’re going to be very exhausted. Your hubby comes home after a hard day’s work, you get the baby to bed, and he is going to be looking forward to that time with you,” during the interview, Michelle recalled her friend’s words.

5. Partying without Alcohol, is it possible?

In the United States, alcohol is a part of the culture and no one organizes a party that has no place for beer. But the Duggar family is an exception. Duggar boys and girls never go to a bar or a night club, and their entertainment is completely restricted by religious thoughts. They read the Bible and visit historical places and spend time with their extended family, that’s all. Once Jill and Jessa accidentally tasted alcohol at a political event and it was a bad experience for both of them. On the Duggar family’s official Facebook page, Duggars keep sharing the picture of their family party and you can find chocolate milkshakes and some yummy cakes! But no sign of alcohol. 

4. Derick Dillard Tormented A Cat

A couple of years ago, Jill Duggar’s husband Derick Dillard encountered a cat while sledding in the snow with his family. Derick’s effort to run over a cat was very funny and he shared the video on social media. But fans did not like the way he treated the cat that was having a happy time on snow just like him. “That is so sickening and certainly not very Godly. I can’t believe they LAUGHED while tormenting an animal. What happened to loving all of God’s creatures?” an Instagram user commented on Derick’s video. PETA also sought a public apology from Derick for his action.

3. The Silent Chaperone sees it all

It’s quite common that before getting married, every couple desires to spend time with each other preferably in a restaurant or park. The Duggars too allowed their girls to meet their future husband, but they must take a chaperone with them. Usually, they sent a chaperone who is ten years older than the young girls. “I had had a couple of girlfriends before meeting Jill, and chaperoning was new to me,” Derick Dillard confessed once. When Jinger visited an amusement park with her fiancé Jeremy she was accompanied by her siblings Jeremiah, Jedidiah and Joy-Anna Duggar. Their visit was also featured in one of the episodes on season two of “Counting On”.

2. Duggars’ Intense Techniques For Discipline

Duggar kids are homeschooled and the world believes that they are the role model to everyone when it comes to handling family responsibilities. But sometimes, fans screw them up when they find that their parenting style is on the wrong path. In an interview, Jill Duggar’s husband Derick Dillard said that his baby is manipulative, “He’ll say, ‘I love you, Papi,’ like if he’s really trying to get something to butter you up right before he asks for something.” Derick added. Fans were upset to hear a father speaking about disciplining his kid who is just two years old. In 2015, the pictures of baby Israel created another controversy since he was seen wrapped tightly in a blanket and appeared very sad. It also started a discussion about Duggars using the blanket training method to train babies even though the Duggars never spoke about it. “What is going on in their heads to think that posting two photos of a bound up toddler screaming his head off is appropriate? This isn’t even swaddling a newborn. Izzy looks to be about 6 or 7 months here,” a fan commented on Duggar’s social media post.

1. Josh Molested Five Girls, Including Some of His Sisters

Josh Duggar’s sex scandal ruined the Duggar family’s image overnight. In 2015, a magazine revealed that Josh molested five minor girls when he was a young teenager. Among the five victims of Josh’s sex scandal, four were his own sisters. On Facebook, Josh released an apology for hurting the sentiments of people with his insane acts during his teenage years. “He was just curious about girls and had gone in and just basically touched them over their clothes while they were sleeping; they didn’t even know he had done it,” Jim Bob told during an interview. Rebuilding the damaged public image was a big challenge for Duggar and the family show is in serious trouble due to this controversy.

Sources: People, ET, Today, TLC, Daily Mail