Josh Duggar Scandals Cause Jessa To Rebel Against Duggars Rules: Do Jill & Jessa’s TV Shows Exploit Abuse? [Video]
Josh Duggar was once the model son of Michelle Duggar and Jim Bob Duggar, who proved they had raised their 19 Kids And Counting the right way. The parents have enforced rules that ranged from side hugs and chaperoned dates to modest attire for their daughters, including Jessa Duggar (now the pregnant and married Jessa Seewald) and Jill Duggar (now the married mom of Jill Dillard). But, then came the scandals. Three members of the family (Josh, Michelle and Jim Bob) were fully aware of the offense and others knew about in varying degrees: Josh had molested five underage girls, including several of his own sisters, among whom were Jill and Jessa.
Following the revelation of Josh Duggar’s offense came apologies and interviews. Then came another scandal, of which previously only Josh, married to Anna Duggar and father of his own growing family, was allegedly aware: Josh had paid for two subscriptions on the Ashley Madison website, a service primarily catering to arranging affairs. Josh apologized for cheating on his wife and admitted to porn addiction, after which he entered rehab for sex addiction. But, since then, his sister Jessa has turned her back on her brother, and in some ways, challenged all of those Duggar family rules, starting with sharing a post from her father-in-law that slammed Josh, reported CNN.
Go to http://t.co/czEcEbxxFr and read the post on the Ashley Madison scandal. http://t.co/H3iECw2OFX
— Jessa Seewald (@JessaSeewald) September 1, 2015
It’s not just in slamming Josh that Jessa has decided to create her own rules for how she lives her life out of Duggarville, reports Fashion & Style.
Seewald has also happily shared her views on sex and the married life in terms of how much she enjoys it rather than just focusing on her male partner.
“We’re definitely in love, and well on our way in this newlywed life,” said the upbeat 22-year-old. “And we’re just loving it. I think we’re way past the side hugs now.”
Although 19 Kids And Counting was yanked from the airwaves after TLC watched advertisers flee following the Josh Duggar molestation scandal, Jill and Jessa successfully maintained such a popular presence on social media that the network has now given them several TV specials, as the Inquisitr reported.
TLC shared a first look at Jill And Jessa: Counting On to give viewers an idea of what they can expect.
“Here I am, most joyful time of my life, newly married, baby on the way, and then…the whole world was shocked. … You have to wonder, like ‘How did this happen?’ “recalled Jessa when she learned that the family’s secret had become public knowledge.
TLC currently is planning to air Counting On in three parts starting in December. It will focus on the sisters seeking to put the past behind them after their brother’s scandal, including the Dillards’ mission trip and the pregnancy excitement for Jessa and her husband.
Jessa continues to break those family rules, including at her recent baby shower where she invited guys to make it co-ed rather than the family’s traditional women-only event, according to EnStarz.
In the wake of all that, some are asking whether these specials exploit what happened within the Duggar family that caused 19 Kids And Counting to be pulled from the air, pointed out Paper Magazine.
The specials show the impact of being molested and effect on the family of Josh’s other scandals as well as follow Jessa as a first-time mom and Jill in her mission work with her husband Derick. Although both sisters are adults now, and supposedly made the decisions to do the specials, is the reality TV show helping them or possibly harming their ability to process and heal?
What do you think? Post your comments below.
[Image Via TLC]
