Throughout the years they've been living in the public eye, the Duggar family has stirred up a controversy or two — some much worse than others. And in that time, there have been plenty of occasions when the Duggars have been accused of actually just being bad people, whether it's because of backlash they got from something they did, or from anonymous sources claiming to be insiders who share that the Duggars aren't quite who they make themselves seem they are on Counting On.
At face value, the Duggars seem like nice people … even though they may have a few ultra-conservative beliefs that many fans don't agree with. But there's definitely been evidence over the last few years that these people aren't quite what they seem, and for the accusations that have already come out against them, we wouldn't be surprised at all if we found out something odd has been going on behind the scenes.
Read on for the times the Duggars were accused of being bad people. We may never know the truth about them beyond what they actually show and tell us on social media and TLC, but we definitely have to wonder if there's more shady stuff about this family lurking beyond the surface.
Accused of Being Hypocrites
In this one anonymous post sent in to a Duggar fan Instagram account, a person accused the Duggars of being hypocrites and "not good people." Supposedly, not only did they refuse to accept the fact that one of their children is reportedly gay, but they were also mean to the author of this post personally, possibly making "terrible comments" about a child who is biracial and born out of wedlock.
Jim Bob May Have Disowned Jinger
According to what a source told The Hollywood Gossip, Jim Bob had disowned Jinger after she moved to California and started rebelling against the family by wearing pants and living life on her own terms. It wasn't until someone from the Duggars' church stepped in and told Jim Bob how bad the optics were that he (reportedly) finally decided to make up with her.
Jim Bob Didn't Pay Jill & Derick
Last year, Jill Dillard's husband, Derick Dillard, made it more than clear while talking to fans on social media that his father-in-law Jim Bob hadn't let them know the family was being paid for Counting On, allegedly withholding money from them that they had earned by filming. Later, Jill said she had to get lawyers involved to get the money that she was due.
Jill May Have Profited From Her Grandmother's Death
When the Duggars' beloved grandmother, Mary Duggar, died last year, Jill shared a blog post about what her grandma meant to her. But since she appeared to be using it as a way to draw clicks to her family's personal blog, fans felt the move was shady, and more about making a profit than sharing her favorite memories with Mary.
Josh Duggar's Molestation Scandal
In 2015, Josh's alleged molestation accusations came to light, and the world found out that he had reportedly sexually assaulted some of his sisters. His parents sent him to a camp to do physical labor as punishment, but fans didn't think that was harsh enough — even when the family publicly shared that they had long since forgiven him. This ended with 19 Kids & Counting being pulled from the air.
Josh's Cheating Scandal
Also in 2015, Josh was exposed in the Ashley Madison hack, letting the whole world — including his wife, Anna — find out that he had been having affairs, using a website that helped married people find someone to have an affair with. Josh apologized again, and he and Anna stayed together, but it's something fans have never forgotten.
Hurricane Response
In 2019, the Duggars got a lot of backlash when some of them went to the Bahamas to help with relief after Hurricane Dorian. A number of people believed that they were just making the situation worse — since none of them were doctors and nurses qualified to help the injured people — and others felt the organization they created, MedicCorps, was shady.
Animal Abuse Accusations
In 2019, Jinger and Jeremy Vuolo were accused of animal abuse when they let Felicity eat ribs. Though the family has never been shy about their consumption of meat, some fans took the opportunity to share how disappointed they were that they allowed Felicity to eat ribs for the sake of a cute photo.
Josh's Adult Film Star Controversy
Adult film star Danica Dillon has said that while she and Josh had sex (during the time he was cheating on Anna), she felt like he was going to "kill" her, and that her airflow was restricted as she was "doing things that felt super uncomfortable to me." She went on to say that Josh shorted her when it came time to pay her what he owed for the sex.
Jim Bob's Manipulation
A source told The Hollywood Gossip that Jim Bob used money to manipulate his adult children to do what he wants them to do. The anonymous insider said, "Jim Bob has instilled and browbeaten and berated these kids and built them the way he wants them to be, and then when they get a taste of things that aren't his way, but are still right, he just can't handle it."
Different People Off Camera
As another insider told The Hollywood Gossip, that, reportedly, Jim Bob and Michelle's sweet personas are only for the TLC cameras. When they're not filming, they are "different animals."
"I've seen her in a howling mood when she thinks no one's around," the source said of Michelle. "You'd be in the hallway, or you'd be in the office, and all of a sudden, you hear her spouting off at these kids or running after them with a spoon or a spatula."
Spying on Their Kids
Jim Bob and Michelle have admitted to using software to spy on their adult children as they use their computers and phones. In a livestream event where they spoke in 2020, they shared that they keep an eye on everyone's internet usage via a program called Covenant Eyes, and that continues with their adult children until they move out of the house.
Jill Isn't Allowed to See Her Family
Among all the things that Derick has called Jim Bob out for, one of the most glaring is the fact that he won't allow Jill to see her siblings and go to her family's home without his permission … and unless he's there to supervise the visit. It would seem that he's worried Jill will be a bad influence on the other kids, but in the process, he's keeping her away from her younger siblings.
Taking Money
Years ago, Jill and Derick set up their own ministry fund to help raise money for the mission trips they wanted to take. But their charity wasn't officially registered as a charity, and they didn't share where the funds were going, no explanation about what the funds were used for, or who they helped. After enough backlash, it all got shut down.
Blanket Training
One of the most controversial parenting methods the Duggars use is blanket training — training their children as babies to stay on a blanket and be obedient. They do this by putting a toy off the blanket, just out of the child's reach, and then using a switch if the baby tries to crawl off the blanket to the get the toy. This has been so controversial to the point that even cousin Amy Duggar has condemned it. It seems Michelle and Jim Bob are holding strong to this method.
