TLC has removed 19 Kids And Counting
from its schedule for now amid allegations Josh Duggar sexually
molested underage girls as a teenager.
In a Facebook post, Duggar, the oldest
son of Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar, apologized for acting
“inexcusably” as a minor.
According to a police report obtained
by In Touch Weekly, Duggar allegedly sexually molested 5
girls, some of whom are his sisters, when he was about 14 years old.
Jim Bob Duggar, the patriarch of the family, waited nearly a year
before reporting his son's actions to the authorities, according to
reports. In a statement, Jim Bob and Michelle said the incident drew
the family “closer to God.”
“Effective immediately, TLC has
pulled all episodes of 19 Kids And Counting currently from the
air,” TLC said in a statement. “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.”
Duggar has stepped down from his post
as executive director of the Christian conservative Family Research
Council (FRC), a group vocally opposed to LGBT rights.
Last year, Duggar and his mother led a
successful campaign to defeat an LGBT protections measure in
Fayetteville, Arkansas. Duggar claimed that such measures jeopardize
the safety of children.