TLC pulls Duggar family series amid sexual misconduct reports
LITTLE ROCK, ARK — TLC pulled the realit y series “19 Kids and Counting” from its schedule on Friday, a move that follows reports of sexual misconduct allegations against one of the stars, Josh Duggar, stemming from when he was a juvenile.
In a statement, the channel said it was “deeply saddened and troubled by this heartbreaking situation, and our thoughts and prayers are with the family and victims at this difficult time.” The statement didn’t elaborate.
Also Friday, Arkansas police said they had destroyed a record outlining a nearly decade-old investigation into Duggar, a day after the 27-year-old resigned his role with a prominent conservative Christian group amid reports about the allegations.
The Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, which obtained the offense report before its destruction, reported that Duggar was accused of fondling five girls in 2002 and 2003. Duggar issued an apology Thursday on Facebook for unspecified bad behavior as a youth and resigned his role as executive di- rector for FRC Action, the tax-exempt legislative action arm of the Washington-based Family Research Council.
“I would do anything to go back to those teen years and take different actions,” Duggar wrote.
In my life today, I am so very thankful for God’s grace, mercy and redemption.”
No charges were filed against Duggar, and the report said investigators concluded the statute of limitations had passed, according to the newspaper.
“19 Kids and Counting,” stars Duggar and his family. He is the oldest of Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar’s 19 children. The network didn’t address whether its popular show would return.