It's been well over a decade since fans were first introduced to the Duggar family on a little show that was (at the time) called 17 Kids & Counting. Since then, this TLC series has evolved a lot, eventually becoming 19 Kids & Counting and then Counting On, and during this time — and with all the life changes that have happened — there have been a lot of awkward moments. And in some situations, we're talking full-on cringe that we can't bear to watch again.
From awkward proposals to first kisses to parenting moments from Jim Bob and Michelle that made us super glad they're not our parents, there have been so many cringeworthy moments over the years. Of course, every family has embarrassing moments like these, but not every family experiences what it's like to have those moments televised (and then burned into the brains of viewers for years to come).
Read on for all of the cringiest moments that have ever happened to the Duggars on TV. On one hand, it's not going to stop us from watching to see what else this fam could possibly do in the future, but on the other hand, it's giving us a lot of secondhand embarrassment to even remember that all of these things really happened.
Jill & Derick's Pregnancy Announcement
When Jill and Derick Dillard told her family that they were expecting their first child, Israel, they did it in a pretty weird way. They went over to Jim Bob and Michelle's house, acted like they were about to confess to stealing something from them to throw them off because Jill had used one of her mom's pregnancy tests, and then dropped the pregnancy bomb. Strange!
John & Abbie's Wedding Kiss
Knowing that the Duggars save their first kisses for marriage, it goes without saying that it'll be at least a little awkward up there at the altar. But when John David and Abbie tied the knot, he decided to make a big production out of it, kissing her everywhere (hands, cheeks, forehead) before he kissed her on her lips. Yes, in front of everyone.
The Mini Golf Double Date
Before Jessa and Ben Seewald were married, they went on a double date with Jim Bob and Michelle. The whole group played mini golf, and the older half of the group acted a bit wild, smooching and practically humping each other on the golf course, showing off what the kids had to look forward to once they were officially married. How embarrassing!
Josh & Anna's Engagement
This was over a decade ago, but it's still pretty haunting. When Josh Duggar popped the question to Anna, he surprised her at a restaurant where she was eating dinner with her parents on her birthday. And to make matters even stranger, she and her mom were wearing matching outfits at the time. It didn't help that the engagement was followed up by close up footage of Josh and Anna rubbing each other's hands, either, because that was the only place they were allowed to touch each other.
Ben's Rapping
On one episode of Counting On, Ben decided to try his hand at Christian rapping, and things went off the rails real quick. We've gotta give him some props for trying, but maybe for now, he should just stick with being a pastor and keep his day job.
The Creation Museum
While most families go on vacation to places like the beach or Disney World, Jim Bob and Michelle approach things a little differently. As a group, the Duggars traveled to a creationism museum, where they learned that the Earth is only 6,000 years old and that evolution never happened. It was interesting, to say the least.
Derick & Jill's First Kiss
Like we said, saving their first kiss for the altar makes things awkward all around, but when it came to Derick and Jill's first kiss, her dad made it all a bit worse. He joined them on the stage at their church, stood beside the pastor, and told Derick he had his permission to kiss the bride when the ceremony was over. Sigh.
Jinger & Jeremy's Honeymoon
During Jinger and Jeremy Vuolo's honeymoon in Australia, they took a cooking class together, and things started getting hot and heavy while the chef was trying to teach them a new skill — and he didn't try to hide his annoyance, either. There's a time and place for this stuff, guys!
Joy & Austin's Fondue Experience
Another Duggar honeymoon, another awkward moment. When Joy and Austin Forsyth were in Geneva, they tried fondue for one of their meals, and the waiter served them sparkling water. Apparently, they were both unfamiliar with it, because they both thought it might be wine.
Jim Bob's Behavior in Nepal
When Jill and Derick met in person for the first time in Nepal, Jim Bob accompanied his daughter as chaperone, and it was more than a little awkward. He kept inserting himself and reminding them that he was there to make sure things didn't get out of hand between them when they were just trying to get to know each other. He even policed those side hugs.
Josh's Song for Anna
As if their engagement wasn't cringey enough, let's talk about Josh and Anna's wedding. During the ceremony, Josh sang a song for Anna called "The Loyalty Song." At the time, it was uncomfortable at best, but since then, it's aged like milk, considering Josh's involvement in the Ashley Madison scandal.
Jill's Response to Derick's Proposal
While Derick's proposal itself to Jill was adorable — he had a musician write and sing a song about their relationship to Jill before he got down on one knee — Jill's response was a bit weird. Instead of saying "yes" when Derick asked her to marry him, she said, "Yes, totally!" Oh, geez.
Josh & Anna's Double Date
In one episode, Josh and Anna went on what seemed like a double date with John David and Jana — who are twins, not two people in a relationship. To make matters worse, Josh even joked on the date that they were in Arkansas, so incest was on the table. Looking back after all of Josh's scandals, this moment is even worse.
Jim Bob's Finance Talk
Before Jinger and Jeremy got married, Jim Bob had an awkward talk about money with Jeremy. In fact, he specifically told him that he'd better be able to support Jinger's thrift store shopping addiction, or else. This all happened right in front of Jeremy's parents, too.
Ben Asking Jessa to Court
When this conversation went down between Ben and Jessa, they weren't alone — and they were in kind of odd circumstances. After getting Jim Bob and Michelle's permission, Ben brought Jessa into an office (that's really more like a closet) to ask her if she wanted to court — accompanied by her parents. Then, Jim Bob gave them permission to engage in a 30-second side hug.
