Wednesday, September 6, 2023

Dillards in PEOPLE Magazine and Statement from Jim Bob and Michelle

Ahead of her upcoming book release, Jill (Duggar) Dillard was interviewed by PEOPLE Magazine alongside husband Derick. With Counting the Cost set to hit the shelves in just six days, PEOPLE has published two articles that include snippets from the interview. 

In the first, Jill shares that her anger surrounding the handling of her information as a victim and the court case that she and her sisters lost propelled her to take action and influenced Derick's career choice. The second article addresses Jill and Derick Dillard's relationship with Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar and how reality TV impacted the Dillards' marriage and includes a statement from the Duggar parents.\

129 comments:

  1. I can see the Jill and Derick are both acting out of their unrealistic expectations of others. We all fall short. It is God's word that says to honor your parents. That organizations simply quoted God's word. Abuse or even perceived abuse creates wounds that must be healed. Healing comes with maturity and forgiveness. Profiting off of a book of failed expectations is disappointing. God will finish the work He has begun in this entire family. The devil is the one who comes to steal, kill and destroy, not brothers or parents or spouses. They will realize this in time.

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    1. I agree with 9/6 @ 3:43. There is much healing that needs to be done in this family. Only God knows the Truth about what is going on here (though that being said, JB and Michelle should’ve put more thought into going on reality TV to begin with, and perhaps should've worded their statement differently as not to sound hypocritical about wanting privacy.) I won’t condemn one side or the other, but everyone is in my prayers.

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    2. Jim Bob and Michele profited off their kids.

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    3. Jill is an adult. It’s her choice if she wants to share about her experiences growing up amongst her family and her parents and so on. You don’t have to read the book, but nobody should really put down an author, creator, or artist before reading a book. It is a free country and they have the right to share about their experiences if they want to. It sounds like you’re sharing more of an opinion in your comment.

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    4. Well said,you know Jill wasn't the person she is now when she live lived with her family,I believe Derick brainwashed her.

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    5. @12:46 More like Derick UN-brainwashed her. Her upbringing was toxic.

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    6. I don't think a book is a bad way to share her story, but it's just way too soon. Tension is still so high from all the Josh stuff. Wish Jill had waited until she's was more at peace with God, and everything she went through. This may end up being just like the first book she wrote with her sisters- she won't agree with half of it in 5 years.

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    7. 1:34, Derick talked about writing a book several years ago. I wouldn't say this was a sudden decision.

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    8. Where did I say it was "sudden"? I said it's too soon. She's still processing emotions. This isn't healthy.

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    9. Derek has that creepy lawyer vibe..

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    10. There's always that one rebellious child in a family...tsk tsk..

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  2. I cannot wait for Jill's book. Its about time these girls told their story without their parents edit and cashing in on them.

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    1. Seems she is cashing in on her parents with all these books and interviews, Jana would never do something like that,I think that's the reason Jana is still single she wants to make sure she marries a man similar to her family, see how Jill and Jinger changed after marrying average guys.

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    2. How do you know Jana would never do anything like that? She's still living under Jim Bob's roof. She won't bite the hand that feeds her right now. But I'm sure she'll get a book offer someday when she's out. She may not take the offer, but I'll bet she gets one or several, and I'll bet she's tempted.

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    3. I did see that. Its a wonder to me how Jeremy and Derick passed Jim Bob's 50 page questionnaire.

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    4. Her parents cashed in on their children so I hardly thing her doing the same thing and giving herself a voice is wrong.

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    5. 12:51 I wouldn't count on that lol. It's about time the parents are exposed.

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    6. Jill is the only duggar trashing her parents.. the others aren't saying much and even Jinger mentioned that they were good parents. Something is fishy here

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    7. Seems like Jill is trying to get revenge and taking it out o her parents.. she mad that she didn't listen to "music"..lol whatever.. turn on the radio and listen to all the trash you want now! You're and "adult"...right??

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  3. I'm glad that Jill has the courage to share her story. I've been following the Duggar family since the 90s when I was homeschooling.

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  4. Wow! Parents need to stay out of their children's marriages and let them live their lives. Don't give advice unless they ask you for it. JimBob is sending a message to his adult kids that they can't be trusted to make their own decisions. How is that good parenting?

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    1. I very well agree considering the values he taught this family on…

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    2. Considering their daughter is trashing the family on all kinds of media, I'd say he has every right to be making decisions!

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  5. Jim Bob and Michelle chose to be very public with their lives and the lives of their children. Now they want privacy. Too bad they never gave their kids that option.

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    1. I agree. It sort of came back to bite them big time.

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    2. Itll bite back on Jill...watch

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  6. Jim Bob had no right to interfere in their marriage like that. For people who believe in leaving, cleaving, and having marriages between one man and one woman, they somehow let a third person into the marriage to tell them what they had to do.

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  7. Very happy for Jill/Derrick for standing there ground. Shame on Jim and Michele.

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  8. Where is JimBob and Michelle's statement?

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    1. I don't know. I didn't see it, but that doesn't mean it didn't happen.

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    2. In the article. They basically said they did not want to comment on specifics.

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    3. Considering their daughter trashed the family outright in public, along with that crazy cousin what more could they say?? Those crazies stirred up the pot and then some

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  9. How convenient that JimBob and Michelle are now claiming they're protecting their "privacy" as Jill is speaking out, when for years they sacrificed the privacy of their entire family on TLC- including pressuring their daughters to perform for the Megan Kelly interview. These reality show/YouTube family "influencers" all seem to drive themselves off a cliff sooner or later. I feel very sorry for anyone born into this family.

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    1. @10:24 Just like they protected privacy when they made Jill and Jessa talk to Megyn Kelly.

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    2. Guys, that interview was worse than what you saw on TV. Jill has now disclosed that Josh was sitting on a couch just off-camera throughout that entire interview, watching and listening to everything his sisters said. What kind of parent allows that? Where was this "privacy protection" for their daughters back then, on any level?

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  10. This seems to be another rehash of Jill's grievances with her family. The family had already forfeited their privacy by appearing on national TV so Josh's victims had to reasonable expectation of their identity not being obvious when the police report was released.

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    1. 11:19 I assume that's a typo and you meant they had "no" reasonable expectation of their identity not being obvious. In that case, I agree. Plus, Josh was over 18 when the report was taken so his name and his parents' names did not need to be redacted. Another important freedom we enjoy in this country, freedom of information.

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    2. There is a journalistic standard not to identify victims of sexual violence. Whether the report should have been sealed I cannot speak to, but the publication(s) should have never identified them. By identifying the abuser, his relationships to the victims, and their ages, they were identified. This was not proper practice.

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    3. Josh was an adult then. Just mentioning his name and what the police found out he did would have given away everything. You don't sit on a story involving the police and a crime because it might embarrass someone. We'd have no reporting on any wrongdoings if that was the standard.

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    4. 1:27- no he was a minor

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    5. The Duggars would be complaining loudly if they tried to get a police report they wanted and it was blocked. Rules don't go one-way.

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  11. The kids (Jill especially) volunteering to go out in public and air dirty laundry is not a good look on them. As adults they did not have to continue filming if it made them so unhappy, but look at them now, chasing public attention again with another book and interviews.

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    1. @11:57 That's what this is about too - not having the choice AS ADULTS to stop the filming! Did you read the articles and the other things Jill and Derick have said over the years? If not, it will be in the book.

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    2. Matthew, Jill felt pulled between her husband and her father. They are not chasing "public attention", but rather telling their truth.

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    3. Do you mean that when your parents mistreat you in public, you're not allowed to set te record straight in public?

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    4. 11:57, They did have to continue filming. Jill signed a contract without understanding exactly what it involved. She was told to sign it because the other adult kids were signing it too, and Jim Bob needed her signature. What she did by signing was agree to 20 hours a week of unpaid filming, just as she was a newlywed with a baby and off to El Salvador. She was unhappy, but she had no choice at that point, since she signed a contract. Reasonable parents would have made it clear first what was in the contract, and then when they saw unhappiness, would have negotiated a new contract or done something to alleviate the situation. Jim Bob did not, and continued to deposit the TLC checks.

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    5. Matthew M., you make a good point. In private is the way to approach familial challenges with grace, dignity, and the hope of healing and restoration. Nothing is gained by judging and sensationalizing another's (perceived) sins, failures, or shortcomings on a world stage. (I have no intention of reading this book.) I don't know the hearts of Derick and Jill - only God knows if they are of pure motive or of a passive-aggressive spirit of rebellion and retaliation. Sad.

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    6. @10:17 If you have no intention of reading the book then you won't understand how Jim Bob was given the opportunity to approach this challenge in private with Jill. Jill describes exactly how he reacted in a private setting like that, and it was NOT with grace, dignity, or hope. It was with anger and aggression that terrified Jill and even intimidated the mediator who was present. You should read the book.

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  12. Maybe Jim Bob should have kept his family off tv and stayed private to begin with. I wonder if he regrets that decision.

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    1. They never should have put their family on TV. Bad choice. I don't believe God would have led them to that. Maybe one documentary was okay but they mistook the show as a ministry opportunity. No, you do that in your normal sphere of life, not TV.

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    2. 6:16 actually I believe God did otherwise Josh wouldn't been in prison right now.

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  13. Jill has every right to tell her story, and I look forward to reading her book.

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    1. Jill has been married with children for years now, so why doesn't she just be free and live her life? Her parents aren't stopping her from anything and aren't even involved in her and Derricks life. She has got to be so miserable, her and Jinger both that they would sit around and obsess about the things they disagree with their parents and upbringing about. For mothers in their thirties they have got to have more to do then this. We have families, friends and Church and jobs and ministries and celebrations together that keep us busy and I don't know why these girls don't have these things. They seem like miserable complainers that must drag everyone in their lives down by this constant grumbling. This is a horribly testimony from people calling themselves Christians.

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    2. Jill especially is shedding light on some very non-Christian things that happened to her. Isn't that worth her time? I hope it brings about changes with the way TLC handles families with minor children.

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    3. @3:57 I don't know how you expect Jill to put everything with her family aside and not have emotions about it. Wait til the book reveals more about what happened to her, and you'll see.

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    4. Personally I think this is Jill and Jingers last ditch effort to make money on the Duggar name. All this info could have been put on social media which is something they are always on, for free. Instead they wanted more money and attention so they wrote books to profit off of. They know that now that the family doesn't have a show that people will just move on and the Duggars will be yesterdays news and so they hurried and wrote these books to make money. This is all about money and attention!

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    5. Anon 8:33 I agree with you, after all if someone is on social media all day posting everything about their lives and never mention this big thing that supposedly traumatized them and then suddenly they write a book (for money) telling all about it then obviously this is being done strictly for profit. Then they try to convince everyone that its to help others, when in fact it is to line their own pockets. Helping others shouldn't cost people when everything could have easily been said for free if its even true.

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    6. @8:26 Publishing a book is a much better and stronger way to present your information than posting bits of it daily on social media!!

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    7. 3:57 I agree! Jill went all wild and got her nose pierced and is rebelling. She needs therapy, not a book deal

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  14. I didn’t see what parents commented

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  15. I realize Bill Gothard misused the Bible a lot, but it pretty clearly comes right out and states that GOD's plan is for a man and woman to leave their parents when they get married and cleave to each other.

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    1. @7:21 It doesn't say that the father should then take all money earned by the man and woman's work and keep it for himself.

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    2. 11:22, no, it doesn't say that either. You are correct. Not sure how that relates to my comment, though.

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    3. Yes which makes it hard to understand why JB thought he had some sort of right to meddle in his children's marriages. It seems Jill and Derick stood up to him and the rest let him do whatever he wants.

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  16. I'm in agreement with the parents no comment, comment. This is just personal stuff Jill is dramatizing and selling. I'm not buying it. In fact I need to go to the pharmacy to get something for the sick feeling in my gut all of this is giving me.

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    1. I noticed that Jill and Derrick seemed to be trying to provoke her parents. She got with Derrick and then came the nose ring, tighter clothes, obsession about talking about her sex life and hanging with Amy. Then she made sure she posted that her son was going to public school. All those things were things that she didn't think were right but now somehow they were not only right to her but things she encouraged others to do too. I think Derrick enjoys seeing her going against her parents but one thing they seem to forget is that we teach our children how to treat us by the way we treat our parents. its not what we say but what we do that children copy.

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    2. 10:40 How is it "personal" stuff if it pertains to a show that aired for over 10 years? They wanted us to know their "personal" stuff. They just didn't want us to know this particular "personal" stuff, because it wasn't as cute as the rest. But that doesn't mean it wasn't happening. I'm glad Jill pulled down more of the curtain of deception. I don't like being deceived, do you? That makes me reach for stomach pills.

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    3. 12:28 Children grow up and form their own opinions and values. JimBob has pushed his daughter away by trying to control her, even as an adult. So what if she's got a nose ring and wears blue jeans? If those superficial things are what matters to him, yet he continues to support and make excuses for a son who is a criminal, Jill is perfectly justified in keeping him out of her life.

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    4. 12:28 - "Going against her parents" - all she's doing are normal everyday things that wouldn't have made anyone blink except for the ridiculous and extreme upbringing she had to endure. Oh my gosh, her kid went to public school and she's friends with her cousin! Shocking.

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    5. They put their children on national TV and now they want "privacy" when stuff comes out that spoils the image they projected to the public. Pretty hypocritical IMO.

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    6. @10:02 True. And pretty obvious too. The true character of a man is what he does when he thinks nobody is looking...

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  17. "We will not comment" - JB & M, after making a lengthy comment.

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    1. Yes. They want "privacy".

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    2. They can't comment because they have no logical basis for their anger, and anything they say will only make them look worse.

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    3. The Bible does say Christians should settle sins against themselves in private with the offending party.

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    4. @7:39 Then obviously Jim Bob doesn't read that part of the Bible, because what Jill described when she tried mediation with him, in private, was horrible.

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    5. The book told what Jim Bob said to Jill in private. It was not words of reconciliation.

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  18. When parents interfere in a marriage day after day it wears the marriage and the couple down. That lead to my brother's divorce and ultimately his suicide. Let your adult children lead their own lives and think for themselves without needing to constantly please Mommy and Daddy.

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    1. Wow. I am so sorry to hear that. Sending you a hug.
      And yes, I fully agree… controlling parents do tear the marriage apart, even if it’s just by their adult child feeling bad about themselves which negatively impacts the married couple.

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    2. It sounds like your brother had other issues going on..

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  19. When is this circus going to end? There are two sides to every thing.let the Duggar Family settle their differences in private and out of the press!

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    1. JB and Michelle started this circus when they put their children on national TV. I don't see it ending any time soon.

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    2. Jill's book, unlike Jinger's, will tell you a lot about the parents' side, how they acted, and how they reacted.

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    3. The parents have, Jill is not letting it go

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  20. Nothing like recycling what Jim Bob and Michelle said after Josh's trial.

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  21. September 6 347 I CANT WAIT, I HAVE A COPY, COMING AND CAN'T WAIT EITHET!!!!

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  22. It's hard to understand how some fans feel Jill is a horrible person for telling her side of the story, yet continue to defend her parents who for years were telling their own on a TV show. Turns out, it wasn't a very accurate one. There should be regulations in place that put a stop to exploiting minor children on TV or public media accounts.

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  23. Jinger's book wasn't like this. This is more of a tell all of family secrets. Makes me uncomfortable to read that kind of thing. Don't think I'll be buying this one

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    1. @5:30 So you can go on pretending nothing happened?

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    2. Everyone's experience is different.

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    3. I enjoyed Jinger's book. I'll decide rather to buy Jill's book after I read fans book reviews.

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    4. It sounds like it'll be a bunch of whining

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    5. I'll skim it for free at the library or free book bin

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  24. The TV show was just about how a big family managed. Doing this would ave benefited their family as a whole, and in that family business the girls did get many lifelong benefits. It does seem sad that now they act so traumatized and make everything so morbid. It seems they do it just to continue their media involvement. Specifically so they continue to make media money. Once the positive side is sold, its then time to extend the process to sell their negative side. But Jill sure looks overjoyed about being in magazines and on interviews.

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    1. @8:16 If all you saw on TV was "how a big family managed," then you weren't looking closely enough.

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  25. I pray that Jill will somehow find peace.🙏💕

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    1. She won't because she's making the money now

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  26. If Jim Bob's behavior in the courtroom during Josh's trial (when Jim Bob was confronted with a situation he didn't like) is any indication of how he acted with Jill and Derick, there is going to be some serious information disclosed in this book...

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    1. I think, bad as Jim Bob behaved in court, he held back a bit from what he really wanted to say, since it was court and everything was being recorded. I think that in a closed door family situation with emotions high, things would have been much worse.

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    2. Absolutely. It was inhumane how we pretended not to remember his own daughters abuse! I wish that would’ve been the nail in the coffin for all his fans but sadly, some people still want to believe the happy tv front he puts on.

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    3. @Charity That still makes my head spin, how he couldn't remember facts that everyone who watched the show knew! And he was involved in it first-hand!

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    4. Jim Bob was called down by the judge for his behavior and rightly so. I think this book may also show equally bad behavior on his part toward Jill and Derick.

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    5. That was disgusting. How could JB possibly "not remember" all the stuff that led to the cancellation of 19KC?

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  27. Looking back, I'm now wondering if Derick speaking out against the star of another one of TLC's shows was his way of trying to get TLC to fire him and Jill on purpose, since they didn't want to continue with their own show. They had no other way out. Breach of contract would have done it. Interesting thought, and I wonder if that will be discussed in the book.

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    1. It wasn't just one TLC star. Jazz and Nate both. Around the same time. Interesting.

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    2. Something fishy sure was going on about that time. You could tell Derick was mad. Later TLC put out a statement saying they were no longer filming Derick and Jill. It would fit that he got them fired on purpose.

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    3. I don't see it that way. Although Derick has strong opinions and isn't always very tactful in how he expresses them, I don't think he's that devious.

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    4. @10:46 You can't see Derick's mind, when he was planning to be a lawyer, trying to find some legal loophole or back door way out of the contract that was making them so miserable?

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    5. BIG TIME. I love the spin that they left TLC when they were actually fired from TLC due to a Derick’s opinions of trans people. He’s definitely a lawyer.

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    6. It would have been a handy way out of a contract they couldn't seem to get out of otherwise.

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    7. 2:02 They were not fired from TLC. They quit.

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  28. Based on Jill and her husband's obvious anger, I have a feeling the book will be exaggerated and potentially give the Duggars grounds for defamation. Hopefully Jim Bob will not sue them.

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    1. I doubt that Jim Bob has any grounds for a lawsuit. Since he and Michelle "didn't comment", I'd say the book is pretty truthful.

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    2. That’s a laughable prediction. It sounds more like he better be hoping the IRS leaves him alone.

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    3. Even exaggerations have basis in truth. You can't inflate something if there's not something there to begin with. From what I've read so far, Jill does not sound as if she's exaggerating. Direct quotes and texts received are included. Read what she says and then look back at the dynamics that were happening on the show and in the family in the later years... It all fits.

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    4. @1:39 There was no need to exaggerate. What really happened was horrible enough.

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    5. Sue them on what basis? That Jill told the truth? That she tried to defame him maliciously somehow by telling the truth about what happened to her? That a lawsuit will help everyone heal, which is what the parents claim they want?? I doubt Jill & Derick are living in fear of a lawsuit, even if Jim Bob does like to start those. Jill & Derick are smarter than that, and I think Jim Bob knows about Derick's law connections. Besides, Jim Bob has his hands full these days with legal battles for Josh.

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  29. I'm glad Jill has a platform and can tell her story. Since her parents aren't refuting her statements, I think she's being truthful.

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    1. No..her parents are not making a statement because they know it'll just hurt the family more and cause more damage, like Jill is doing..there's a big difference

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    2. 12:06 AM - The parents are not wanting to take accountability for all the things they have done and continued to do.

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  30. They made money off of their kids and now the kids are now making money off the brand. It only seems fair. It all comes out in the wash. Wishing Jill and Derrick joy and healing! This family acted like they were perfect. Just because a person is a parent doesn’t mean you half to have a relationship with them. Especially since a parent is supposed to protect and love you unconditionally. It seems like all Jim Bob cares about is looking perfect. I believe that’s why they covered for their son.

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    1. Well said. Jim Bob and Michelle preached "accountability" for years. Now they are being held accountable and don't seem to like it.

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  31. I'm glad that Jill was finally standing up for herself and telling the truth because it needs to be told.

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    1. What truth? Her truth? Who knows what the truth really is? There are 16 kids who haven't come forth to trash their parents..

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  32. Interesting when Jill says the show nearly tore her marriage apart and how controlling her dad is, blah blah.. her dad encouraged Derek to marry Jill so what is the motivation to tear the marriage apart??

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  33. I just can't agree with the conclusion that because the Duggar parents made their childrens' lives public, the chicldren have a right to make ANY information public. I'm sorry, but Jill DID sign the contract, whether or not she read carefully or understood what she was signing. Also, Jill is defaming her parents, whereas Jim Bob and Michelle never defamed their children. They pretty much only talked positively about them in public. Can you imagine if the parents told publicly all the ways that their kids have mistreated them? There would be an absolute outcry! When Jill totally bashes her parents (I assume), everyone is like, "It's her right. I'm so glad she has a platform. I'm so glad she found her voice. She's so brave." I imagine that Jim Bob and Michelle could say several things about their kids that would "shed light" on their children's bad behavior toward them." But they won't do it. They will only talk to their kids in private. I'm not agreeing with Jill and Derick's treatment that they got. I'm disagreeing with them writing a book about it.

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  34. I have been watching the Duggars since 17 Kids and Counting. Absolutely loved the show. I do wonder about some things, particularly concerning the dress code which I thought was a personal conviction? It seems it wasn't, if Jill is getting raked over the coals for wearing pants without her parents permission. It's irregardless to me if she's married or not, she was above 18 and an adult when she decided to do that. Her call, her choice. Doesn't seem to add up why there was even talk about what an adult does (or doesn't do). She should fully call her own shots including deciding to be filmed or not, what to wear, what to pierce, what to eat or drink... just crazy sounding to to think that a fully grown adult has to justify her decisions that are right for her self and her family...she shouldn't have to explain herself to anybody.

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