Even though the Duggar family seemed to be a pretty peaceful bunch when they were still on Counting On, like any other family, they have drama, something we’ve become all too aware of in the wake of the documentary Shiny, Happy People that came out in 2023. And because there are so many people in their family tree, it goes without saying that at least a few of them are bound to have beef with another family member at any given moment. At first, it just seemed like it was Jill Duggar and her husband, Derick Dillard, who were feuding with parents Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar, but it’s become clear that they’re not alone.
Of course, the Duggars aren’t outwardly hateful to each other — that’s just not the way they do things. But reading between the lines, it’s easy to tell that their relationships aren’t quite as simple as it would seem while watching them interact on TLC. There are some complicated emotions here, and they’re not all positive.
Between reports from sources close to the reality stars to the shady comments that have been made on social media and everything in between, here are all the receipts when it comes to the drama that exists between the Duggars.
More from CafeMom: 15 Biggest Bombshells We Learned From ‘Shiny Happy People: Duggar Family Secrets’ Doc
Jana Wants to Leave Home
At 33 years old, Jana Duggar isn’t married and still lives at home with her parents, which is considered normal in the real world but is totally abnormal in Duggar world. There have been reports that Jana is tired of her parents and wants to live on her own and lead her own life — but unfortunately, it sounds like that might not be an option for her until she gets married.
Birthday Shade
When Jim Bob turned 55 in July 2020, it was quickly obvious that none of his kids wished him a happy birthday except for daughter Joy-Anna Forsyth. Considering how close this family seems to be, it was a little surprising that Jim Bob’s kids would shade him like that, hinting at what might actually be going on between them behind the scenes.
Jim Bob Disowns Jinger
According to what a Duggar source told The Hollywood Gossip in 2020, Jim Bob actually disowned daughter Jinger Vuolo after she moved to Los Angeles with her husband and started doing things he disagreed with (like wearing pants — the horror!). It wasn’t until someone from his church pointed out how bad the optics were that he reportedly decided to make amends.
“They told Jim Bob, ‘If you really want to stand in a bad light, you just carry on the way you’re carrying on with Jinger,'” the source said.
Kendra & Joe Steal Joy's Spotlight
When Joe and Kendra Duggar shared that they’re expecting their third baby, they happened to make their big announcement on Joy’s due date with her rainbow baby, Evelyn. At the time, fans accused them of trying to steal Joy’s thunder, and that might not be so far off. After all, Joe did propose to Kendra at Joy’s wedding.
The Triangle Between Jessa, Jinger, & Jeremy
Though Jinger and Jessa Seewald have always made it clear that they’re not just sisters but also best friends, there have been rumors that things are a bit awkward between the two of them because of Jinger’s husband, Jeremy Vuolo. Some fans think that Jessa and Jeremy have chemistry that doesn’t exist between him and Jinger, and if this is true, we can’t imagine it would be easy on their relationship.
Lauren & Josiah Drift Away
We haven’t seen Lauren and Josiah Duggar spending much time with the rest of the family over the past few years. For a while now, it’s seemed like the couple has been distancing themselves from Jim Bob and Michelle, limiting the amount of time they spend with Josiah’s family, and since they’ve made their exit from social media, we have no idea what they’ve been up to in the meantime.
Jinger's Unimpressed With Jill
Jill hasn’t made her feud with her parents a secret, and it sounds like Jinger may not be happy about it. Reportedly, Jinger is upset that Jill keeps publicly disrespecting their parents, and as a result, they’re no longer close. And that’s not the only sign that these two are feuding …
More from CafeMom: 15 of the Weirdest Duggar Family Traditions
Jinger Shades Jill
Need further proof that Jill and Jinger are on the outs? Some fans think a post on Jinger and Jeremy’s podcast’s Instagram account (which has since been deleted … hmm) is pointed at Jill, since it happened to be shared around the same time that Jill’s bombshell interview with People was published.
“Determine how you want your family to think of you, how you want them to remember you! Your friends, children, and loved ones would far rather know you as kind more than anything else!” said the caption on the post.
Amy's Shade Toward Jinger
It seems the Duggar family feuds even reach to the extended family! In a tweet that cousin Amy King shared in June 2020, she seemingly called Jinger out for her picture-perfect Instagram account, and it really did appear that Amy was saying Jinger is trying too hard. Of course, none of that has been confirmed, but fans are convinced there’s beef there.
Jill Missed Out on the Christmas Party
During the 2020 holiday season, all the Duggar women (including the wives) got together for a party at Joy’s house that included food and wreath-making, and the only one who seemed to be missing was Jill. Lately, Jill hasn’t been at most family functions, leading fans to wonder if she’s not being invited at all.
Joy's Personal Beef With Jill
After Jill was missing from the Christmas party, Joy seemed to confirm that she was invited and chose not to go. Fans noticed that Joy liked an Instagram comment that said, “Why do you think she’s never included with the sisters? Ever think she chooses not to go?” Yikes!
Derick Calls Michelle Out
In a blog post that Derick wrote about what he considers a good mother to be, he suspiciously left his mother-in-law off the list. And to make matters even more dramatic, his words seemed to be pointing to her being a bad mom.
“Different people have their ideas about what a mom should look like. Some walk the walk and talk the talk but are the farthest from what a Christian mother is called to be,” he wrote. “A godly mother is not recognized by donning skirts, having long hair, or tattoo-free skin.”
Derick's Ongoing Feud With Jim Bob
It’s absolutely crystal clear that Derick isn’t a fan of his father-in-law. Over the past few years, Derick has shared so much dirt on Jim Bob, and after what we saw on the recent Shiny Happy People docuseries, we know there’s more to come, especially since Jill and Derick have a book of their own on the way.
Anna's Crack at Her In-Laws' Parenting
Jim Bob and Michelle are famous for the way they divide up chores in their household — the kids take on the bulk of the work, splitting their home into “jurisdictions,” and each older kid has a “buddy team” of younger ones to look out for. But in one Instagram comment, Anna Duggar revealed she does not plan to follow suit.
“We do not have a buddy system,” she wrote. “I’m mom, and as much as possible I want our children to be free to enjoy their childhood!”
More from CafeMom: 28 Controversial Duggar Quotes That Totally Freaked People Out
Justin vs. His Parents
One theory about why Justin Duggar and Claire Spivey are getting married so young? Supposedly, Justin wants to get away from his family as quickly as possible. So, he was ready to marry as soon as he turned 18 and plans to move to Texas, where the Spiveys all live. This could definitely be plausible …
The Reaction to Josh's Conviction
Although Anna, Jim Bob, and Michelle made it clear that they planned to support Josh unconditionally after he was convicted of receiving and possessing child sexual assault material in 2021, other members of the family made it clear they do not condone his behavior.
Jinger and Jeremy were one of the couples in the family to release a statement against Josh, writing, “We are saddened for the victims of horrific child abuse. We are also saddened for Josh’s family, his wife and precious children. We are saddened for the dishonor this has brought upon Christ’s name. Josh claims to be a Christian.”
'Shiny Happy People' Docuseries
Jill and Derick did not hold back when it came to their true thoughts about Jim Bob and Michelle and their cult-like religion in the Amazon Prime Video docuseries Shiny Happy People. In fact, Jill pointed out how power hungry her dad is, and she admitted that she wasn’t able to express her feelings truthfully growing up.
Jed Speaks Out
After the docuseries aired, Jed made it clear where he stands … and it’s not with Jill and Derick. Not only did he like comments admonishing Jill for speaking out against her family, but he also responded to someone who tried to clap back at him for doing so.
“Excuse you, but you don’t know our family at all,” Jed wrote in an Instagram comment at the time. “Please don’t make assumptions about things that 100% none of your business. The true shame is on you.”
