Brush it off. The Duggar family spoke out about moving past eldest son Josh Duggar‘s scandals in an interview with Good Morning America on Monday, March 14, days after it was revealed that he completed his stint in rehab.
The tight-knit reality family detailed the aftermath of Josh’s August 2015 cheating confession, which subsequently resulted in rehab for the father of four, 28. He previously sought treatment back in 2002 when he was a teen, after he molested five underage girls, including sisters Jill and Jessa. Last week, he left rehab to make a fresh start.
Like Josh, the other kids from the devout Christian family are deliberately and consciously taking strides forward. “The devil took his best shot,” John-David Duggar, 26, told ABC News’ Paula Faris. “And he tried to take our whole family down, but God has really used this to — instead of tearing us apart as a family, he’s using it to draw us together … We’ve forgiven. We’re moving on and we’re looking to the future.”
Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar announced last Thursday, March 10, that Josh, the eldest of 19 kids, had completed his six-month stint at a faith-based treatment facility in Rockford, Illinois.
“We are so thankful for everyone who worked with Josh in this program. It was a crucial first step in recovery and healing for Josh. Josh has now returned to Arkansas, where he will continue professional counseling and focus on rebuilding relationships with his family,” they wrote on the family blog. “We look to God for help and guidance and place all of our trust in Him. We are forever grateful for the love and prayers offered by so many and hope you will continue to pray in the days ahead.”
While he was away in rehab, Josh’s wife, Anna Duggar, filmed a special girls’ trip with his younger sisters Jill and Jessa for their TLC spinoff series, Jill and Jessa: Counting On. “Family is everything,” Jessa said in a preview, while a release from the show read: “The Duggar family is on its way to finding a new normal.”
A TLC rep previously confirmed to Us Weekly that Josh will not appear in the series.
Jill & Jessa: Counting On returns to TLC on March 15 at 9 p.m. ET. Watch above.
