It's official: TLC has canceled 19 Kids and Counting two months after the Duggar family's child molestation scandal broke. In the wake of this news, the Duggar family posted a statement on TLC's cancellation on their family blog.
How are the Duggars feeling about this news? No doubt privately they have mixed feelings. Like so many others who have participated in reality TV, the Duggar family has become savvy about sharing only as much as they want to share, and controlling the message. Here we see them doing just that: trying to put the molestation scandal in the distant past, emphasizing the ministry aspect of their show, and projecting a positive tone as they move forward.
They begin by remembering how over a decade ago they were invited to participate in a documentary about their family of then-14 children. They saw it as an opportunity to share their faith and family philosophy with the world.
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It's gracious of them to thank the film crew, people who have been in their home over all these years and have become "like family" to the Duggars, at the beginning of their statement: "They have invested their time and energy into our lives and have been so loving and patient. We love and appreciate them so much!" It's also interesting that they do not thank the producers, nor TLC executives.
The Duggars emphasize that Josh, his sisters, and the entire family are healing from "a terrible situation." And they hope this "painful situation" which happened "many years ago" will bring other people who have endured the same closer to God to find "help, hope, and healing" as well.
Much of the statement is a reiteration of the family's faith in and devotion to God. They trust that everything that happens is part of God's plan. That seems to include the special, one-hour documentary to air in August.
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"We look forward to working with TLC on this upcoming special documentary and hope that it is an encouragement to many," they write. That's all they have to say about it for now.
They seem to be working to put this news in perspective, in their own way. You can't help noticing a tone of disappointment -- along with resignation -- held somewhat in check. But they're also tremendously grateful for the opportunity they've had.
And that's all the Duggars are saying on the matter for now. The statement was tweeted by Josh, Anna, Josiah, and the main family handle. All the rest, including Jill and Derick Dillard, have remained silent on Twitter since TLC's announcement.
And so a new chapter begins for the family.
Image via duggarfam/Twitter