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Josh Duggar’s fall from grace was swift.
After enjoying success on the popular reality show “19 Kids and Counting” — which chronicled the lives of the large, religious Duggar family in Arkansas — Josh became entangled in a series of scandals starting in May 2015 when bombshell news broke that he’d been accused of molesting five underage girls when he was a teen.
Josh’s latest troubles came in April 2021 when he was arrested for possession of child pornography and receipt of child pornography. He pleaded not guilty that April, and jury selection for his trial began in November — after he had a seventh baby with wife Anna Duggar.
Page Six is breaking down the eldest Duggar sibling’s troubled life, from his hidden past to his present entanglement with the law.
Josh Duggar molestation accusations resurface
The curtain was pulled back on the Duggars in May 2015 after In Touch revealed that Josh had allegedly molested five young girls — including four of his sisters — when he was a teenager.
Josh’s father, Jim Bob Duggar, reportedly sent his son to a Christian treatment program for three months and had his state trooper pal — who reportedly later ended up in prison for child porn — give Josh a “stern” warning.
An official investigation opened up in 2006 — four years after the first alleged incident — after someone tipped off the authorities ahead of the family’s interview with Oprah Winfrey.
Josh was never prosecuted, and the statute of limitations has run out.
Josh Duggar asks for forgiveness, gets support from family
After the scandal broke, Josh issued an apology and resigned from his post at the Family Research Council, a Washington-based Christian lobbying group.
“Twelve years ago, as a young teenager, I acted inexcusably for which I am extremely sorry and deeply regret,” Josh said in a statement. “I hurt others, including my family and close friends.
“I confessed this to my parents who took several steps to help me address my situation. 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 would do anything to go back to those teen years and take different actions.”
Josh’s wife, Anna, and his parents, Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar, released their own statements at the time, with Anna saying Josh confessed his “difficult past mistakes” to her before he proposed, and that counseling has “changed his life.”
Jim Bob — who came under fire after allegedly waiting to go to the authorities — and Michelle, meanwhile, said Josh “made some very bad mistakes” that they were “shocked” about at the time. They added, “We had tried to teach him right from wrong. That dark and difficult time caused us to seek God like never before.”
TLC cancels ’19 Kids and Counting’ and introduces a spinoff
TLC pulled “19 Kids and Counting” from the network’s program schedule shortly after Josh’s apology before permanently canceling it in July 2015 amid mounting pressure.
But a few months later, the network announced a spinoff, “Counting On,” featuring Jill Duggar and Jessa Duggar — two of Josh’s sisters who identified themselves as his victims.
Josh found out in Ashley Madison hack, admits to cheating and porn addiction
A massive hack of cheaters website Ashley Madison revealed in August 2015 that Josh had a secret account.
Josh allegedly paid $986.75 to the site during his two-year subscription and was interested in “conventional sex,” “experimenting with sex toys,” “one-night stands” and “cuddling & hugging,” according to Gawker.
He subsequently admitted to cheating on Anna and having an addiction to porn.
“I have been the biggest hypocrite ever,” Josh wrote in a statement released online. “While espousing faith and family values, I have secretly over the last several years been viewing pornography on the internet and this became a secret addiction and I became unfaithful to my wife.”
However, he later amended his statement to nix any references to “pornography.”
Josh checks into faith-based treatment center
Just days after his Ashley Madison account was revealed, Josh checked into a long-term treatment center: the faith-based Reformers Unanimous, an all-male facility that deals with treating “sin.”
As Page Six reported at the time, the $7,500 program located in Rockford, Ill., requires clients to wake up between 3 and 5 a.m. and spend their first hour “alone with the Bible and journaling” before having breakfast and starting their day, which typically includes a work-therapy assignment, prayer groups and one- to two-hour classes with biblical teachings.
Josh leaves rehab and works on ‘rebuilding relationships’
Josh left rehab in March 2016 and started “rebuilding relationships” in his life.
“We are so thankful for everyone who worked with Josh in this program,” the Duggar family said in a statement. “It was a crucial step in recovery and healing for Josh [who has] now returned to Arkansas, where he will continue professional counseling and focus on rebuilding relationships with his family.”
A year after Josh left rehab, he and Anna announced that they were expecting their fifth child and had “quietly worked to save our marriage, focus on our children and rebuild our lives together as a family.”
Their statement continued, “Doing so is never easy after a breach of trust. We’ve learned that a life of faith and rebuilding a life together is simply done one day at a time.”
Josh arrested for child porn possession
After a quiet few years, Josh made headlines in April 2021 after he was arrested on charges of possession and receipt of child pornography — just days after he and Anna announced that they were expecting their seventh child.
The sick pics allegedly found on Josh’s computer were “in the top five of the worst of the worst that I’ve ever had to examine,” Homeland Security special agent Gerald Faulkner said during Duggar’s detention hearing in May, per People.
Josh pleaded not guilty to the charges and was released on bail. Under the terms of his release, Josh was required to stay at a family friend’s house and could only see his children with Anna present.
Duggar family speaks out
Josh’s parents and several of his siblings spoke out in the wake of his arrest, with Jim Bob and Michelle saying they prayed that “the truth, no matter what it is, will come to light, and that this will all be resolved in a timely manner.”
His sister Jill called the news “very sad,” while his sister Jinger said she was “disturbed” to hear about Josh’s arrest.
“While this case must go through the legal system, we want to make it clear that we absolutely condemn any form of child abuse and fully support the authorities and judicial process in their pursuit of justice,” Jinger wrote.
Anna did not make a statement.
TLC axes ‘Counting On’
TLC confirmed in June 2021 that the network would not produce additional seasons of the Duggars’ “Counting On” to “give the Duggar family the opportunity to address their situation privately,” noting that Josh has not appeared on TLC since 2015.
Some family members spoke out in support of the cancellation, including Jinger and her husband, Jeremy Vuolo. Jim Bob and Michelle thanked their viewers for their support and following the family but did not directly address Josh’s troubles.
Josh’s trial date set
Josh’s trial, originally scheduled to start in July 2021, was pushed back to November after his legal team asked for more time to review evidence.
Jury selection for the embattled reality TV star’s trial began on Nov. 30, 2021.
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