TLC is taking 19 Kids & Counting off the air -- at least for now -- since news is circulating Josh Duggar, the eldest child of Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar, sexually molested five girls as a young teenager.
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According to a 2006 police report, Josh forcibly fondled the breasts and genitals of five girls -- at least a few of whom were his own sisters -- back in 2002 and 2003 when he was 14-years-old. Charges were never filed, however, because authorities were not notified of Josh's indiscretions until after the three-year statute of limitations had expired.
Jim Bob also waited more than a year after his son confessed his actions before contacting police, In Touch Weekly reported.
Josh, now 27 and married with three children, admitted to such offenses and expressed his sincere apologies via a lengthy statement on Facebook. His wife and family also released statements of their own on social media in support of Josh being a changed man.
"I acted inexcusably for which I am extremely sorry and deeply regret. I hurt others, including my family and close friends. I confessed this to my parents who took several steps to help me address the situation," Josh wrote on the Duggar family's Facebook page.
"We spoke with the authorities where I confessed my wrongdoing and my parents arranged for me and those affected by my actions to receive counseling. I understood that if I continued down this wrong road that I would end up ruining my life. I sought forgiveness... I would do anything to go back to those teen years and take different actions."
In Touch published the police report on Thursday and TLC initially declined comment on the matter. However, people were outraged when the network ran a 19 Kids & Counting marathon later that night.
One reality TV star who was furious about the idea 19 Kids & Counting may not be canceled was June "Mama June" Shannon from Here Comes Honey Boo Boo. TLC stopped production of her show in October 2014 after she was rumored to be dating a convicted sex offender who had once molested one of her daughters.
Shannon, who claimed to have lost hundreds of thousands of dollars because of the situation, told TMZ that she was prepared to sue the network if they kept 19 Kids & Counting on the air because it would be "unfair and inconsistent treatment."
Although a broadcast was scheduled to air on the morning of May 27, TLC has now reportedly pulled it off its schedule.
19 Kids & Counting premiered in 2008 and is currently in its 15th season. The fame of the Duggar family has risen in recent years due to their unusual style of courtship in addition to numerous marriages and pregnancies.
About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski
