Josh Duggar Scandal Update: TLC’s ‘19 Kids and Counting’ Loses Advertisers Amid Molestation Rumors
The future of TLC's family show "19 Kids and Counting" is looking very bleak.
Shortly after a police report about eldest son Josh Duggar's sexual molestation cases was leaked, advertisers have started to distance themselves from the show.
In the police report, Duggar's parents reported his inappropriate behavior to the police. Charges, however, were never filed. The report stated that in 2002, Duggar inappropriately groped the breasts and genital areas of young girls, some of whom reportedly were his sisters. He was a teenager at the time of the events.
Duggar, his wife Anna and his parents Jim Bob and Michelle have all released statements about the claims. The family referred to the incidents as a "dark and difficult time."
In light of the recent events, Choice Hotels International, Payless ShoeSource, General Mills and Walgreens have cut ties to the show.
Choice Hotels Internationals tweeted on Tuesday, in response to user @moaevil, "Thank you for reaching out. We share your concerns and we have decided to remove our advertising from the show."
Payless ShoeSource tweeted, "@SweetBabbyJesus Our ads ran during this show as part of a larger buy w/ TLC. We are taking steps to have them removed from future episodes."
Walgreens stated via the comment sections of different posts on their Facebook page, "In the wake of recent news, we are no longer advertising on the '19 Kids and Counting' program."
The Hollywood Reporter added that a spokesperson with General Mills confirmed that they will also be pulling their advertisements from the show as well.
The network suspended the show from its schedule for the time being.
On Friday, TLC released this statement:
"Effective immediately, TLC has pulled all episodes of 19 Kids and Counting currently from the air. We are deeply saddened and troubled by this heartbreaking situation, and our thoughts and prayers are with the family and victims at this difficult time."
TLC and the Duggar family have not commented about the scandal since they released their statements.
