Not So Pure After All

Friday afternoon update: TLC has pulled the show from its schedule for "the foreseeable future." Realistically, it's gone for good.

More: Will TLC cancel the Duggars' show? In the end I think they will, as I tweeted last night, but if they don't they might find themselves in court. "Mama June" Shannon, the Mom from the Honey Boo Boo show, reminds everyone that TLC cancelled her show last fall after reports surfaced that she was dating a convicted child molester. That was an expensive loss for Shannon, apparently costing her hundreds of thousands of dollars and she wants to see the Duggars take the same hit. From the Detroit Free Press:

On Friday, she was fuming to TMZ that she wants to sue TLC about unfair treatment, since — so far — the Duggars still have a show, even though, she believes, the parents covered up Josh Duggar's confession to groping five girls 12 years ago in Springdale, Ark.

"I read that the Duggar family said this happening with their son brought them closer to God and each other,' Shannon complained to TMZ. "So they're saying it's OK to have family touch time? Hell no." Read the story here. 

Late Friday afternoon before a long week-end would be the perfect time for TLC to make their announcement. Stay tuned.

Original Post:

My guess? TLC cancels Duggar show before the week-end is over.

— Kimberly Hanes (@WritingTheWorld) May 22, 2015

Believe me when I say that I never thought I'd take to my blog to say nice things about the Kardashians. Around here snarkiness is the usual tone when I talk about Kim and the gang. This morning, however, I'm struck by the contrast between the loving acceptance they've expressed concerning Bruce Jenner's transition, and the hateful intolerance shown by the Duggars for anyone who doesn't live according to their rigid and restrictive morality. And note that the Duggars aren't just a family with a reality show. They use their fame to tell others how to live, supporting conservative politicians and in the case of first-born son Josh, working for the Family Research Council, which has been decribed by the Southern Poverty Law Center as an anti-gay hate group. As the Executive Director of the FRC's political operation (up until yesterday, when he resigned,) Josh Duggar toured the country expounding "traditional family values" and yes, telling people how to live:

"Evil done to children is one of its worst forms."
"We have to stand up to defend the American family"
"Children are a gift from the Lord and and when you look at them that way and you look at them really as more of an investment and really, you know, looking beyond yourself, I think that's what's so important."
"... I think it's just such a blessing when you see family and you see that you can honor each other"

It sounds a little different when you know that young Mr. Duggar was sneaking into his sisters' rooms to sexually assault them, doesn't it? (Quotes are from an article at Think Progress, read it here.)

This is an ugly story all around and the gleeful schadenfreude, even gloating, from observers who don't admire the Duggars, isn't contributing anything positive to the situation. Given the hypocrisy at the heart of the Duggars' purity empire, however, I'd say it's understandable.