The “19 Kids and Counting” spin-off “Jill & Jessa: Counting On” has been facing cancellation rumors since early this month. While the ratings for the new Duggar family reality show has been stellar, more and more companies have been pulling out their ads from the TLC series, not wanting to associate themselves to Josh Duggar following the scandal.
According to The Hollywood Gossip, TLC has partnered with Darkness to Light, an organization that benefits the victims of childhood sexual abuse. A series of ads will reportedly run in the network throughout April as part of Sexual Assault Awareness Month and Child Abuse Prevention Month.
This definitely rubbed viewers the wrong way as they pointed out that the network has been sending mixed messages to viewers. They held that picking up "Jill & Jessa: Counting On" was like giving power to the Duggar family and, in a way, condoning Josh's actions.
"TLC has a promo for child abuse month, but they're paying a family who has a son who abused his siblings, and then the family proceeded to cover it up. Stop being hypocrites. #NoMoreDuggars. #NoExcuseForAbuse," a netizen wrote on Twitter.
In March of last year, Josh admitted to cheating on wife Anna and molesting five girls, four were his sisters, in his teenage years. Josh then agreed to enter a faith-based rehab facility to work on his sexual addiction issues. The "19 Kids and Counting" star left early March after completing his program.
While the Duggar family has publicly supported Josh throughout the entire ordeal, insiders claim that Anna was still having second thoughts about forgiving him. Some publications even went far as saying that she was considering getting a divorce.
In an episode of "Jill & Jessa: Counting On," via The Hollywood Gossip, Anna opened up about her struggles after finding out that her husband cheated on her.
"It just seemed like a bad dream, it didn't seem possible and I just thought, I'm gonna wake up and everything is going to be okay and this really can't be true. It was definitely a hard thing and I think it is such a betrayal for a spouse to go through," she said.
"Jill & Jessa: Counting On" airs Tuesdays on TLC.