When TLC formally cancelled 19 Kids and Counting last week because of Josh Duggar’s molestation scandal, Michelle and Jim Bob Duggar said they were thankful for the opportunities they had throughout the years and were confident everything would work out. But, privately, reliable sources say the family is fuming.
A source close to production told People Jim Bob Duggar is “furious” about everything and said the backlash to Josh’s police report is just a “liberal media conspiracy to bring this family down.” The insider added there was talk of a Jill Dillard and Jessa Seewald spinoff, but Jim Bob wasn’t having it.
“He absolutely wanted to be back on TV,” the source said. “He was never thrilled about the show suddenly shifting focus… The Duggars want to return to TV because they truly believe it was part of God’s plan for them to spread the word about their faith. They are heartbroken that they now have lost that platform.”
The source said the Duggars are also baffled by why the public can’t forgive and forget.
“I think Jim Bob and Michelle honestly did expect people to just move on from this,” the insider said. “Their thinking is, they put this behind them ages ago, so why wouldn’t the rest of the world?”
As for their future, the source suggested Jim Bob shot down the spinoff idea with the hope the whole family can return for TLC specials — similar to the Kate Gosselin model.
