TLC considers continuing the Duggar show by dropping the oldest son of the family and focusing on the daughters.
- May 24, 2015
AceShowbiz - TLC is deciding how best to proceed with their hit reality show "19 Kids and Counting" amidst the molestation allegation scandal involving the oldest son of the family, Josh Duggar. The network reportedly considers dropping Josh from the show.
According to TMZ, the network may decide to focus on the daughters because the previous episodes featuring Jill's and Jessa's weddings as well as the birth of Jill's baby got strong ratings. They believe the girls have become "the driving force" for the show.
Despite the controversy surrounding Josh's sexual misconduct from when he was a juvenile, TLC is still confident that the Duggar show will stay strong due to a strong, loyal evangelical fan base. Instead, the network is concerned about losing big advertisers since General Mills has already blacklisted the show.
While decision is still being determined, TLC pulls the show from their schedule. Josh himself has issued an apology and resigned from Family Research Council. He also canceled his scheduled appearance as a keynote speaker at Christian Home School Conventions in the city of Sandusky, Ohio.
"Yesterday, we heard the completely unexpected news regarding Josh Duggar," the convention officials said in a public letter. "Since then, Josh Duggar has withdrawn as a speaker at Teach Them Diligently in Sandusky. While we could fret or argue over what is truth and what is gossip in the recent media reports, we would rather change the focus for a moment to what God has in store for the families that will be arriving on Thursday for Teach Them Diligently in Sandusky, OH."
