The recent news about 19 Kids and Counting's Josh Duggar has really shocked both the shows' fans and critics alike.
The eldest Duggar child has owned up to his mistakes after child molestation allegations surfaced 12 years ago, and received sought counselling for it at the time.
His parents Jim Bob and Michelle do not approve of his past actions, but they appreciated his honesty and said that they have been able to move on from the incident. His wife Anna feels the same way and they have released statements standing with him amid the fresh controversy.
Some people are also forgiving, and have remained loyal to the Duggar family's religious views. On the family's Facebook page, where Jim Bob, Michelle, Josh, and Anna's statements about the scandal were posted, people have been voicing their support.
One commentator wrote, "I love how he doesn't justify or defend. He confesses and repents!!! That's the heart Jesus came to save! What an example of humility and redemption!"
Another user echoed the same sentiments, "He has admitted to what he has done... He got help when it happened... He told his wife about it. She forgave him... Please let this go and let his family and God handle this."
Others, on the other hand, are not so understanding. "Josh may have been a teenager when all of this happened, but it doesn't make it any less wrong. One victim is bad enough, five victims is a repeat offender, and not simply 'a mistake,'" wrote one person.
Meanwhile, a Washington Post blog slammed the Duggars for their hypocrisy and "cult of purity," and picked at the values Jim Bob and Michelle taught their children.
"The Duggars built their brand on a slavish dedication to ideals of modesty and purity, keeping their children away from Unwholesome Influences... The revelation of Josh Duggar's molestation allegations is about more than hypocrisy. This is no occasion for glee. This is a reminder of how badly the cult of purity lets victims down," Alexandra Petri wrote there.
Columnist Dan Savage also slammed Michelle's "hypocrisy," calling her earlier statements against the LGBT community as "demagoguing and demonising," adding that her cover-up of Josh's alleged past molesting was "just staggering."
