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Michelle Duggar and Jim Bob Duggar appear on NBC News’ “Today” show in 2012.
CNN –
Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar reject a new documentary that claims to “unearth the truth beneath the wholesome Americana surface of reality TV’s favorite mega-family.”
Shiny Happy People: Duggar Family Secrets, which debuted Friday on Prime Video, delves into both the lives and beliefs of the stars of previous TLC series 19 Kids and Counting. (CNN and TLC are both part of Warner Bros. Discovery.)
The matriarch and patriarch of the Duggar family posted a note on their website, which said: “The recent ‘documentary’ that talks about our family is sad because in it we see how the media and those with bad intentions do hurt those we love.”
“Like other families, ours has experienced the joys and heartaches of life, only in a very public way,” the note said. “This ‘documentary’ portrays so much in a pejorative and sensationalist way, because unfortunately that’s the way of entertainment these days.”
As part of a religious organization called The Institute in Basic Life Principles, the family adhered to strict doctrines, including prohibitions on the use of birth control, family-supervised courtship before marriage, and modest dress for women and girls.
CNN has reached out to the institute for comment.
The show was canceled in 2015 following allegations that the eldest son, Josh Duggar, had abused several of his family members as a teenager.
Although he was never charged in connection with these allegations, Duggar was found guilty in 2021 of receiving child pornography and possessing child pornography and was later sentenced to more than 12 years in prison.
His family also starred without him in the series Counting On, which was canceled in 2021.
Some family members shared their individual stories.
Daughter Jinger Duggar Vuolo recently published her memoir, Becoming Free Indeed: My Story of Disentangling Faith from Fear. Another daughter, Jill Duggar, appears in the documentaries with her husband, Derick Dillard.
“We have always believed that the best chance to mend damaged relationships or settle differences is through love in private,” wrote Jim and Michelle Duggar in their note.
“We love each member of our family and will continue to do everything we can to have a good relationship with each one,” the statement concludes. “Through triumphs and trials, we have grown stronger in our faith and discovered that it is through the love and grace of Jesus that we find strength, comfort, and purpose.”