It Took Charges of ‘Possessing Child Exploitation Material’ to Finally End the Duggars

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TLC has officially canceled “Counting On,” a show featuring the highly controversial Duggar family. You may remember that in 2015, it was revealed that Josh Duggar, the eldest son of Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar from “19 Kids and Counting,” had molested multiple younger sisters during his teenage years. The family’s inadequate response to protect their daughters from Josh led to a significant public backlash, resulting in the cancellation of their original show.

However, TLC later launched a spin-off without Josh called “Counting On,” likely recognizing the financial loss of not showcasing the family. Recently, with the new charges against Josh for “receiving and possessing child exploitation material,” the network decided to sever ties with the Duggars altogether—at least for now. I doubt this is the last we’ll hear from them, but time will tell.

It’s crucial to note that while law enforcement uses the term “child pornography,” more accurate terminology as per Interpol is “child sexual abuse”—a term we will use in this article except when quoting legal documents related to Duggar’s case.

In a statement to PEOPLE, TLC announced, “TLC will not be producing additional seasons of Counting On.” They added that it’s important for the Duggar family to address their situation privately. There’s also the ethical concern of financially supporting parents who failed to protect their daughters from their eldest son’s heinous actions. A police officer previously involved in the family’s case is now incarcerated for his own child sexual abuse material charges, which raises further questions about the family’s previous platform.

“Counting On,” which began airing in 2015, focused on the older Duggar children (excluding Josh) but was rife with controversy beyond just Josh’s actions. The family’s troubling views, particularly regarding gender roles and the treatment of women, have sparked criticism. Their insistence that girls should always be “joyfully available” to their husbands and discouragement of pants for females reflect a harmful ideology that many believe should not have received any screen time.

The less visibility this family has, the better for society.

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Summary

TLC has canceled “Counting On” after the recent charges against Josh Duggar for possessing child exploitation material, following a long history of troubling allegations against the family. The network’s decision reflects both ethical concerns and public opinion, as the Duggars’ controversial lifestyle and views have drawn widespread criticism.