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Jinger Duggar Details Her "Pain and Heartbreak" After Joseph Duggar, Kendra Duggar Arrests
Jinger Duggar and Jeremy Vuolo are digging into the past to find answers about Joseph Duggar’s arrest.
A month after Jinger’s younger brother was arrested on charges of child molestation—for which he pleaded not guilty—she and her husband reflected on the “dangerous” theology that was part of the Duggar family upbringing while detailing the legal troubles her family members have faced.
“In light of recent headlines and everything we’ve seen with your brother Joe, which has reopened some wounds of past experiences, past headlines, there’s a question that keeps coming up and I think rightly so,” Jeremy, 38, told his wife in an April 22 episode of their eponymous podcast. “We don’t have every answer for that. We were just as caught off guard with that news as anyone else.”
But while they expressed shock at Joseph’s arrest, Jinger and Jeremy—who share three children—alluded to its similarity to the 2021 arrest of Jinger’s older brother Josh Duggar. (Josh, who was revealed to have sexually abused several of his younger sisters as a teenager in 2015, is currently serving 12 years in federal prison after being convicted of receiving child sex abuse material.)
And the couple considered how the Duggar family's religious upbringing could have led to negative consequences.
“We’ve been very outspoken together about the dangerous theology of Bill Gothard and the Institute of Basic Life Principles which was deeply impactful to your family,” Jeremy continued. “This is another opportunity to say it’s pivotal that we’re very careful with what we believe.”
Indeed, as Jinger, 32, nodded in agreement, Jeremy continued to emphasize the “devastating consequences” of Gothard and the IBLP’s principles, which the Duggar’s platformed in their original 19 Kids and Counting TLC reality series as their religious blueprint.
Jinger Duggar Vuolo/Instagram
Gothard stepped down from the IBLP in 2014 following allegations of sexual misconduct. In a statement at the time, he denied the more serious allegations of rape, but acknowledged some wrongdoing saying his behavior “crossed the boundaries of discretion.” Following allegations of perpetuating abuse in a 2023 documentary, the IBLP called the allegations “salacious” in a statement and said the “focus of this ministry is the Lord Jesus Christ and the practical truths found in Scripture, and not any single person or family.”
Jinger and Jeremy’s reevaluation of the Duggar family upbringing comes just over a month after they initially addressed Joseph’s arrest, and later his wife Kendra Duggar’s arrest for child endangerment in Arkansas, calling it “devastating.” (In addition to Joseph’s child molestation charges in Florida, both he and his wife, who share four kids, were charged with four counts each of endangering a minor in the second degree and child endangerment in their home state, for which they have not submitted a formal plea.)
“I did not think my heart could break like it has this week,” Jinger said in an abbreviated episode of her and her husband’s podcast March 25. “The pain and heartbreak that we’ve had over this and just thinking of how it’s affected so many. It’s just unthinkable. It’s so hard and painful on many levels.”
For more of what the other Duggar family members have said about Joseph’s arrest, keep reading...
Duggar Family/Instagram
Jim Bob & Michelle Duggar
Joseph Duggar's parents broke their silence in a statement on March 30.
“Jim Bob and Michelle are heartbroken over this entire situation,” a spokesperson for the Duggar family told Us Weekly. “Right now, they are focused on loving their family and helping Kendra and her children during this difficult time."
The spokesperson added that the couple was "praying for the victim. They ask for privacy and appreciate the kind words and prayers offered by so many.”
Jill Duggar Dillard & Derick Dillard
“We were shocked yesterday evening to learn of Jill’s brother (Joseph Duggar’s) arrest,” the couple wrote in a blog post March 19. “We first learned of anything related to his charges yesterday via a text from a friend who messaged us about the recent media reports of Joseph’s arrest and his alleged confession to molesting a juvenile female in 2020. We are shocked and heartbroken.”
Derick and Jill—who spoke out against the family in the 2023 book Counting the Cost—said they “strongly condemn abuse.”
Kris Connor/Getty Images
Josh Duggar
"Josh understands the stigma of being accused," his attorney told the Daily Mail in a story published March 20. "He lives with the painful reality of how false accusations can destroy a life. He understands how the targeting of a person for publicity can twist the truth into sensationalized fiction."
Noting that Josh—who is serving 12 years in prison for child pornography—is "not in frequent communication" with Joseph, the attorney said the former TLC star "hopes and prays for his brother's well being in this difficult time."
Instagram/Jana Duggar
Jana Duggar Wissmann & Stephen Wissmann
"We are deeply saddened and heartbroken by the situation involving my brother, Joseph," Jana and her husband said in an April 2 statement shared on Instagram Stories. "This news came as a shock to us, as we have no prior knowledge before it became public."
The countinued, "Our hearts are with the child who has been harmed—this is a grievous and unacceptable wrong. We continue to pray for the victim and for justice to be carried out."
Insatgram/Jason Duggar
Jason Duggar & Maddie Duggar
The couple, who married in 2024, said they are "angered" by the "unthinkable" actions of his brother Joseph.
"We, like many, have spent the week completely shocked, confused, and grieved to list a few emotions," Jason and Maddie said in a statement shared on Instagram March 26. "We are disgusted to hear the news about my brother, however, this isn't about how it's impacted our lives. Our hearts are burdened because a child's life has been turned upside down due to evil actions of someone who should have never hurt the vulnerable."
"Maddie and I have always had a special place in our hearts for the vulnerable around us, and we will continue to do so," their message went on. "To fathom that someone would abuse their authority to harass the innocent is vile."
They asked for prayers for the "brave" victim as well as Joseph's family, saying, "His children must face the reality of losing a father that should have been a spiritual leader in their lives."
Joy-Anna Duggar Forsyth
"What has come out about my brother is heartbreaking and deeply disturbing," Joy-Anna wrote on her Instagram Stories March 26. "My heart is with the victim, and I am grieved by the pain and harm caused. I have been a wreck this week and am taking time to process."
She added, "I will be taking some much-needed time with my family."
Jinger Duggar Vuolo/Instagram
Jinger Duggar Vuolo & Jeremy Vuolo
As Jeremy put it in March 25 episode of The Jinger & Jeremy Podcast, “It’s been a really difficult week for us to process and think through and pray through this with the podcast.”
As for Jinger—who moved to Los Angeles with Jeremy in 2019—she said, “I did not think my heart could break like it has this week,” adding, “The pain and heartbreak that we’ve had over this and just thinking of how it’s affected so many. It’s just unthinkable. It’s so hard and painful on many levels.”
“It’s hard,” she continued. “All we can do in those moments is cry out to God and ask him to sustain us and give help because you can’t just be prepared for news like this.”
Amy Duggar King/Instagram
Amy Duggar King
"I am sickened, heartbroken and deeply angry," Joseph's cousin said in a March 20 statement to People. "My first thoughts are with the victim, a child who deserved to be safe, protected and surrounded by people she could trust."
Amy explained she was "utterly shocked to hear about these allegations and Joseph’s arrest."
"For years, I have spoken out about the importance of truth, accountability and protecting children, even when it meant going against my own family," she added. "Family ties should never equal automatic trust or access, especially when it comes to the safety of children."
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