TV network TLC removed reality series "19 Kids and Counting" from the air after cast member Josh Duggar admitted to sexually assaulting underage girls when he was a teenager. Josh, the eldest of Jim Bob and Michelle's brood of 19, issued a public apology, saying he acted "inexcusably" after reports of the scandal surfaced.
"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," the cable network said in a statement.
Having recently aired the season 10 finale of the show that follows the life of the large Duggar household, TLC has now cancelled its plans of airing reruns of the episodes from the reality series.
In the wake of the issue, the 27-year-old has resigned from his job at the Family Research Council. The sex crimes, as detailed in a 2006 police report mined by In Touch Magazine, states that the first incident happened back in 2002 and 2003 and Josh, who was only 15 at that time, went on to molest three more young girls.
In a statement he released on the Duggar family Facebook page, the would-be father of four said he is "extremely sorry" and that he "deeply [regrets] his actions, adding that he is being helped out by his family for him and for the victims to "receive counseling."
"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," he said. "I sought forgiveness from those I had wronged and asked Christ to forgive me and come into my life. I would do anything to go back to those teen years and take different actions."
Jim Bob and Michelle also expressed their thoughts on the matter and the actions they are taking. Both of them were named in the police report, which had them saying that Josh was sent to a "Christian training center."
"Back 12 years ago our family went through one of the most difficult times of our lives. When Josh was a young teenager, he made some very bad mistakes and we were shocked. We had tried to teach him right from wrong," the two said on Facebook. "Even though we would never choose to go through something so terrible, each one of our family members drew closer to God. We pray that as people watch our lives they see that we are not a perfect family."
Meanwhile, talking to People, Josh's wife Anna revealed that she knew of Josh's "past mistakes" and that he already received counseling, which she said "changed [the] life" of her husband.
