Duggar fallout: Jim Bob Duggar “is like a dictator,” there was “always something odd” about Josh Duggar

People Magazine Contrasting Duggar Covers

One week ago, People released an ill-timed cover story that seemed intended to drum up sympathy for the Duggar family. Then, only hours later, Josh Duggar was linked to a paid, “affair-guaranteed” Ashley Madison account. Josh later admitted to having a “secret addition” to Internet pornography–and to cheating on his wife, Anna Duggar. Now it seems the damage has really been done: for evidence, look no farther than People‘s latest cover story, about “dark family secrets.”

“Jim Bob’s favorite word is ‘no,'” an insider said. “He’s like a dictator.”

Another source confirmed that, explaining, “Jim Bob calls the shots. Always has and always will.”

As an example of the strange bubble Jim Bob and the rest of the Duggars live in, the first source recalled a time someone dared to argue with Jim Bob: “He once saw a guy kissing a girl before marriage and confronted him about it. And the guy said, ‘Jim Bob, show me that verse in the Bible that says we can’t kiss. Get out your Bible.’ And Jim Bob was like, ‘Uhhhh …’ because no one ever confronts Jim Bob. No one.”

Jim Bob Duggar and Michelle Duggar - Duggarville

Inside “Duggarville”–as one source referred to the family’s Arkansas home–the family’s children are very isolated from the outside world. Jim Bob even removes batteries from toys that play music “because he didn’t want [his kids] to dance or move their bodies that way.” There is also no discussion of sex or sexuality, even among the adult children.

That’s one reason why “everyone feels betrayed” by the latest news about oldest child Josh. As a family source explained, his parents, siblings and wife wanted to believe Josh’s indiscretions were in the past.

“He sold it so well,” the insider said, even though “there was always something a bit odd about Josh.”

Josh Duggar

As for Anna, one of the insiders feared she doesn’t get much guidance from anyone outside the home. Even her parents, Mike and Suzette Keller, are encouraging her to fall back on her faith.

According to the source, “They’re telling her Jesus forgives, Satan is trying to attack your marriage, that kind of stuff.”

The source added that Anna has been groomed to believe it’s wrong to feel upset:

 

She doesn’t get mad. You are not allowed to get mad. It’s not godly for a woman….Ever since she met [the Duggars] she has acted more like Michelle. She talks like her, really soft. She, like, whispers.

 

Fortunately, at least one person seems to be getting realistic with the mother of four: “[The source] looked at her and said, ‘You have not absorbed everything yet. You are going to be pissed off, and you are going to be angry. You are going to want nothing to do with him. You may not be feeling these emotions yet. But at one point you will.'”