The scathing new docuseries about the Duggar Family was released on Prime Video on Thursday– and the heads of the famous Fundie family are finally speaking out about it.
After Shiny Happy People: Duggar Family Secrets hit the streaming service, Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar released a statement about the show on their Instagram and family website. This marks the first time Ma and Pa Dug have commented on the show since it was announced way back in December 2022.
In the statement, Jim Bob and Michelle call the docuseries “sad” and say that the stories told are purposely “derogatory and sensationalized.” The Duggars also seemingly address their family members who appear in ‘Shiny Happy People.’ (As The Ashley previously reported, Jim Bob and Michelle’s daughter, Jill, and son-in-law Derick Dillard are featured, as are Jim Bob’s sister Deanna Duggar and niece Amy Duggar King.
“The recent ‘documentary’ that talks about our family is sad because in it we see the media and those with ill intentions hurting people we love,” the Duggars’ statement reads. “Like other families, ours too has experienced the joys and heartbreaks of life, just in a very public format. This ‘documentary’ paints so much and so many in a derogatory and sensationalized way because sadly that’s the direction of entertainment these days.”
Jim Bob and Michelle didn’t deny that they have strained relationships with some of their relatives. However, they insist that they still “love” the relatives featured in ‘Shiny Happy People’ and claim to want to reconcile with them.
“We have always believed that the best chance to repair damaged relationships, or to reconcile differences, is through love in a private setting. We love every member of our family and will continue to do all we can to have a good relationship with each one.”
As per usual, Jim Bob and Michelle then shift the convo to their religion, stating that they “have clung to” their faith “through both the triumphs and the trials.”
“Stop talking Josh.”
“Through the love and grace of Jesus, we find strength, comfort, and purpose,” Jim Bob and Michelle say at the conclusion of their statement.
None of the other Duggars have commented publicly on ‘Shiny Happy People.’
(Photos: TLC)
19 Responses
“The recent ‘documentary’ that talks about our family is sad because in it we see the media and those with ill intentions hurting people we love,” the Duggars’ statement reads.
But you weren’t hurting your daughters when you failed to protect them?
You weren’t hurting your entire family when you decided to follow the teachings of a cult?
You weren’t hurting your kids by replacing their childhoods with parental duties?
GET THE ABSOLUTE FUCK OUT OF HERE
“We have always believed that the best chance to repair damaged relationships, or to reconcile differences, is through love in a private setting.” – says the piece of crap that made millions w-hor-ing his children out to TLC and at least three of his daughters to his firstborn son.
One of the glaring problems I have with the Duggars is how they blame the girls/women for enticing men by dressing in a certain way. Instead of teaching the boys/men that they should respect the girls/women they force the girls to dress modestly and teach them it is bad to expose elbows, knees etc. They can’t go to public beaches, they can’t wear pants, shorts, etc. The men are supposed to be in charge in the family, but if they are so easily distracted by elbows, should they really be in charge? I think the whole patriarchal society is just wrong. My husband and I discuss everything. we talk about purchases, politics, family issues. He does not tell me what to wear, he trusts me and I trust him. In other words we are adults and we respect and love each other.
So, it’s okay for JB and Michelle to paint others who aren’t in their cult in a derogatory and sensationalized way but it’s not okay for them? Got it. They’re just going to continue being hypocrites.
These people
physically and mentally abuse their kids
deprive them of a decent education
indoctrinate them
don’t allow them to have thought of their own or feelings
ignore rampant sexual assault
and encourage men to hit their wives as punishment
Yet the outside world is what’s dangerous and evil. Yeah, Sure. These people are completely delusional.
OMG ?!!!
I just watched shiny, happy people
What these a$$hats got away with is unbelievable.
All the while stating to be good Christians
The saying, “There’s no hate like Christian love!” Comes to mind.
I know a great way for Jim Bob to reconcile with his family, give them all the money they made working and sacrificing their ENTIRE childhood so he could be rich and famous.
Apologize for forcing them to defend their abuser on national tv, and apologize for forcing only the woman in the family to raise your children, so you can pop out more. And finally, state the your oldest son Josh is a much bigger danger to children and women than a trans woman using a bathroom will ever be!!!!
Jim Boob and Michelle have always USED their children to make money for themselves. All the children have only TRANSACTIONAL relationships with their parents!! They sided with Josh when he abused his sisters, there was no protection or care for any of the girl victims. JB & M are evil and I hope all the siblings continue to CALL THEM OUT!!
I agree with them on one thing…all of this should be dealt with privately and not for financial gain.
It’s the very least the girls deserve. Jim Boob made and kept all the money from the shows and appearances.
Well since Jim Bob never gave them the money from their childhood from working from ages 7-18, I think them making money now by being truthful about their experience isn’t the problem.
You do realize that literally everything they (the parents) do is for financial gain. They can’t give an interview, can’t leave their home, can’t participate in any kind of activity with their children without doing it for financial gain.
They sold their damn children off to proverbial satan their entire lives by exploiting them at every turn, sold their daughters’ innocence to their oldest son and forced them to pay a price they can never recoup.
You’re a disgusting pos for defending them. ANYONE that defends these monsters is a pos and should rot in hell with them for all eternity. The Duggar parents should be in prison, period!
I heard all I needed, when I listened to how they begin beating their children at 6 months old, and some continue it all the way into adulthood with spanking their own wives. Thoroughly vile and disgusting, and hiding behind religion to feel manly and powerful.
Most of those Duggar children are adults now, and have the autonomy to walk away now. If they stay, they continue the circle of abuse. Good for you Jill!!!
Not going to lie, my stomach churned as I read this on Instagram earlier. They act like they didn’t throw Jessa and Jill fully to the wolves to try and make the situation “better” publicly just because they were already married. They talk about wanting to heal in private, but even back then it was fully obvious why these girls were publicly paraded around. This is about the victims healing from what they allowed their son to get away with, not about them healing from the public finding out about it and they seem to always miss that point.
I’m not really a fan of Derick but that “Dillard boy” definitely opened her eyes. Jill now knows EVERYTHING she heard in the past has been an absolute fabrication and she was forced to defend her POS brother who is now righfully in jail for being a paedo. (I still can’t believe Anna had another child with him while waiting for the trial to finish…just ew!) I’m so glad she is taking her sons to public schools, letting them see the world…maybe in a few years they will try out for a girl but I can see them being perfectly happy having three boys who will know how REAL WORLD looks like. You’ve done them good Jill, keep it up.
JB and Michelle are trying to do damage control. But since 2015 no one believes these people that they are just “one big happy family”. Hope Jana finds a similar man to Jill.
I hope some of Jana’s family will help her get out. She needs a chance to live!
It’s always others.
I don’t know but they let their son get away with sexually assaulting his own sisters and he’s now in jail for CP. They always hid it, pretending everything was fine. The girls were sent away just like their son, they were punished for something they didn’t do, they were seen as part of the problem.
Your credibility is a bit low Jimbo.
ill intentions hurting people we love,” the Duggars’ statement reads.<——
But it was ok for you to to hurt your daughters, by protecting your nonce son, and forcing the victims to forgive him!!!!
You vile despicable humans.
Great article thanks and I’m glad I get Shiny Happy People on my Prime in Canada. Thanks for covering this story!