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Siblings React To Josh Duggar’s Ashley Madison Scandal On ‘Jill & Jessa: Counting On’

By Val Powell
Published on: 14:17 PST, Dec 14, 2015

Twenty-seven-year-old Josh Duggar, the eldest son of the Duggar family, is currently in a long-term rehabilitation facility to treat his issues that have plagued the family in recent months.

But it seems like the effects of his actions are still felt within the well-known TV family.

In the Duggar reality show spinoff, Jill & Jessa: Counting On, Josh’s siblings finally speak up about their brother’s child molestation admission, and his more recent infidelity issues that involve the cheating website Ashley Madison.

Duggar Siblings Speak About Their Brother Josh Duggar’s Molestation And Ashley Madison Cheating Issues

One of the daughter girls, Jill Dillard, 24, said in an interview that she and her sister, Jessa Seewald, 23, have already forgiven their brother for the molestation he did when they were young.

However, Jill said that it was like revisiting the event over again.

“We really had to work through it because as a victim you’ve already worked through it. You’ve already dealt with it and moved on, and you don’t want it rubbed in your face,” she said.

Jessa said that she was surprised that the media immediately latched on to the scandal when it came out, although she soon understood why.

Jessa said that because of the Christian values that the Duggar family holds dear, people were eager to point out that they aren’t perfect.

“We never claimed to be perfect,” she said.

However, when asked about the Ashley Madison scandal, in which their brother had an account, both Jessa and Jill explained that they, together with the family, were devastated.

Jessa said that it was somewhat easier to forgive a wrong action done years ago, when Josh Duggar was just a teenager. But the revealed Ashley Madison cheating episode means that the issue is “happening now.”

Jessa added that she learned something important: “Don’t be a hypocrite.” Josh’s other younger sisters, Jana, Jinger, and Joy Duggar, were united in saying that the recent scandalous revelations about their brother is among the most difficult situations they have ever faced as a family.

Josh’s brothers, John David and Joseph also shared their feelings about their older sibling. John David said that he could no longer think the best of Josh after finding out about his involvement with Ashley Madison.

John David explained that he understood the huge responsibility of being the eldest, as well as the expectation to become a good example to his younger siblings who look up to him. He added that for a long time before the Ashley Madison scandal broke out, he wanted to be like Josh Duggar.

Despite the tough situation, he said that he no longer wishes to emulate Josh, and that he now has to step up and take the leadership role among his siblings.

Joseph, on the other hand, said that the first issue created a gap between himself and Josh, although in time “it built back up.” However, when he learned about the Ashley Madison issue, it “blew [his] mind” and that he had no idea. Joseph ended by saying that it was just sad that the person who was willing to fight for Christian beliefs would be the one that’s violating them. Meanwhile, Josh’s wife, Anna Duggar, 27, did not appear in the episode, although a preview clip was shown with her in it. “I was just like, ‘I’m going to wake up and everything’s going to be okay and this really can’t be true,” she said.

Anna recently reunited with Josh just before Thanksgiving when she visited him at Reformers Unanimous, a faith-based rehab center in Illinois. An insider said that she brought their youngest child Meredith, and talked with Josh.

While it was difficult for Anna to see her husband Josh Duggar, the insider said that she still misses him. She also reportedly cried a lot while they were praying together.

[Images via YouTube; Carl Court, Getty Images]

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