Why Toby Willis Isn’t Josh Duggar 2.0, And The Willis Clan Won’t Get A New Show


Is Toby Willis the new Josh Duggar? TLC viewers are wondering if they should expect a saga similar to that of the Duggar family, now that Willis has been arrested on accusations of raping a minor. The two cases bear a lot of startling similarities, in fact, but when it comes to the reasons that Josh Duggar and his family have remained in the public eye, the two differ greatly.

Okay, first, a quick rundown: it was revealed in 2015 that Josh Duggar had been accused of molesting several young girls, including four of his sisters. TLC removed 19 Kids & Counting from the air, later canceling it. However, that wasn’t the end of the Duggar family’s relationship with reality TV. The rest of the family soon returned for a new show, Jill & Jessa: Counting On, which ran a three-episode special event before being brought back for two full seasons. Meanwhile, further problems in the family, ranging from a visit with Child Protective Services, to a stint in sex rehab after Josh was caught on a dating site devoted to cheating, came to light.

Toby Willis was arrested earlier this month and charged with the rape of a minor, allegedly, a female relative. TLC has announced that his reality show, The Willis Family, won’t be returning.

So, the question is, why does it seem so likely that Toby Willis’ family won’t be returning in some other capacity or with a new show, since Josh Duggar’s did?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I3x1ii7W4Rc

Well, here are some facts about the similarities and differences between the cases.

1. While both cases are over a decade old, Toby Willis was an adult at the time, while Duggar was a minor himself.

[Image by America’s Got Talent/YouTube]

Both cases came to light around 12 years after the fact, and both involve underage female relatives, at least allegedly. However, Josh Duggar was only 15 when the police report was filed regarding his actions. This doesn’t let Duggar off any moral hooks, since by teenage years, one typically has been taught not to sexually assault kindergarten-age children. However, it outlines a difference in the ease with which those who would make excuses for the actions can do so. It also could mean differences in the legal consequences he would have faced had his case gone to a trial.

2. Speaking of trials, unlike Josh Duggar, Willis will face legal consequences.

[Image by America’s Got Talent/YouTube]

Duggar was never formally charged, and the punishments he faced were, as far as the public knows, confined to a period of time away from home. According to Page 6, Josh spent time with a family friend in intense prayer and manual labor.

Willis, on the other hand, is facing charges. It’s certainly possible that the end result of the case will be lighter consequences than some think appropriate, or that he will be found not guilty. However, his case will see the inside of the justice system.

3. Publicity after the fact: both families release statements, but the level of public interaction, admission of guilt/knowledge, and mode of contact with fans is different.

[Image by Fox News Handout/Getty Images]

Weeks after Duggar’s case was made public, his sisters and parents filmed an interview with Fox News’ Megyn Kelly to explain away not only the crimes, but how they kept them secret and sought a public audience on television after the incidents. The Duggar family’s statement is posted on Facebook, and includes an admission from Josh of wrongdoing, and from Michelle, Jim Bob, and Anna Duggar (Josh’s wife) of being aware of this.

Toby Willis’ wife, Brenda, released her statement, according to ABC7, through her lawyer and declared herself “shocked and devastated” before asserting that her priority now is her children’s well-being. She has asked for privacy.

In essence, the Duggar family seemed to seek more publicity after the revelation, while the Willis family seems to be ducking publicity — which may suggest they will continue to do so.

4. Social Media

The Daily Beast reports that the Willis family’s social media accounts were removed quickly after the arrest.

Aside from using their social media accounts to share their statement, the Duggar family continued to promote their brand via their public pages. Jill (Duggar) Dillard’s Instagram post above was shared the same day the information became public. Though Josh Duggar reportedly knew in advance his record was being released, he continued to tweet about the family’s reality show in days leading up to the news.

5. Perhaps most relevantly, family/show history with TLC.

The Duggar family has been one of TLC’s biggest draws for over a decade — back since it was a TV movie, 14 Kids & Expecting Again. The Willis family, on the other hand, has only tasted reality stardom for a few years — and according to TMZ, the family had already been told in May that the show was not being renewed.

The Willis family also hasn’t spent their whole entertainment history with TLC — they started their television careers on America’s Got Talent, as shown in the video above.

In the end, it’s certainly possible that TLC or another network could decide to return the Willis family to reality TV, but it just doesn’t seem likely. Toby Willis’ family seems less focused on fame than Josh Duggar’s, and circumstances around the alleged events make his actions harder for even the most ardent fans to excuse. Throw in TLC’s much longer history with the Duggars, and their higher viewership, and it just doesn’t seem like there’s as much motivation to return the Willis family to TV as there was for Josh’s siblings.

[Featured Image by America’s Got Talent/TLC]

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