Zero sympathy. In a statement posted to their website on Friday, Aug. 21, Family Research Council president Tony Perkins slammed Josh Duggar’s “deceitful behavior.” The conservative Christian group’s statement comes after Duggar, a former lobbyist for the FRC, admitted to cheating on his wife, Anna, and having a secret addiction to pornography.
“Last night we learned from online reports about allegations concerning Josh Duggar and then read his confession today. We are grieved by Josh’s conduct and the devastating impact of his pornography addiction and marital unfaithfulness,” Perkins statement reads. “Our hearts hurt for his family, and all those affected by Josh’s actions. His deceitful behavior harms his family, his friends, his former coworkers, and the cause he has publicly espoused. Those of us who advocate for family values in the public square are held to a higher standard, and Josh’s failures serve as a painful reminder of the destructive effects of not living with integrity. We are praying for the family.”
The 27-year-old former TLC star resigned from the FRC in May after reports surfaced that he had molested five young girls, including sisters Jill and Jessa Duggar, during his teens. In his resignation letter, Duggar wrote, “In good faith I cannot allow Family Research Council to be impacted by mistakes I made as a teenager” and that he was resigning as executive director.
In his own statement following the Ashley Madison hack on Thursday, Aug. 20, Duggar called himself the “biggest hypocrite ever” and confessed to having extramarital affairs and a secret addiction to pornography. "I am so ashamed of the double life that I have been living and am grieved for the hurt, pain and disgrace my sin has caused my wife and family, and most of all Jesus and all those who profess faith in Him,” his statement read.
TLC canceled the family’s successful reality show 19 Kids and Counting this past July. Anna has yet to comment.
