Everything the Duggar Family Has Said About Joseph Duggar’s Arrest

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The Duggar family is making their views known.

Following the arrest of Joseph Duggar on March 18th for an alleged incident of child sexual abuse in 2020 involving a 9-year-old girl, many of his siblings have publicly condemned his actions.

This includes sisters Jill Duggar Dillard and Jinger Duggar Vuolo, both of whom have distanced themselves from the family featured in 19 Kids and Counting. They’ve each written memoirs detailing their experiences: Counting the Cost by Jill and Becoming Free Indeed by Jinger.

Jinger shared on the March 25th episode of The Jinger & Jeremy Podcast that she felt immense heartbreak this week. She described the pain as overwhelming, not only for herself but also considering how many others it impacted. She said it was a deeply difficult and painful experience on multiple levels.

Jill and her husband, Derick Dillard, said they were shocked and saddened to hear about Joseph’s arrest, and they firmly denounce abuse.

In a blog post on March 19th, the couple expressed their support for the legal process and their hope for a just outcome. They also shared their deep sympathy for the young victim of this terrible crime and her family, offering prayers for her strength, comfort, and the support she needs to heal.

After Joseph and his wife, Kendra Duggar, were each charged with four counts of endangering a child and four counts of unlawful imprisonment, several of Joseph’s sisters voiced their opinions. Kendra was released from jail on March 20th, but Joseph is still being transferred to Florida to face the charges.

His 25-year-old brother, Jason Duggar, and Jason’s wife, Maddie Duggar, also released a statement criticizing him.

We were deeply shocked, confused, and saddened by the recent news, as were many others, we shared on Instagram on March 26th. While we’re upset about what happened to my brother, our biggest concern is for the child whose life has been devastated by someone who should have protected them. It’s heartbreaking that someone vulnerable was harmed in this way.

Joseph and Kendra have not spoken publicly on the arrests.

Here’s what other members of the Duggar family have shared about the accusations against Joseph Duggar.

I was absolutely stunned yesterday to hear about Jill’s brother, Joseph Duggar, being arrested. We found out through a text message from a friend who sent us links to the news reports. Apparently, he’s been accused of a terrible act from 2020 – molesting a young girl, and has even reportedly confessed. It’s just so shocking and we’re completely heartbroken by it all.

Derick and Jill, who publicly shared their experiences with the family in the 2023 book Counting the Cost, stated that they firmly denounce abuse.

The couple, married this year, expressed their outrage over what they called the shocking behavior of his brother, Joseph.

Jason and Maddie released a statement on Instagram on March 26th, saying they were deeply shocked, confused, and saddened by recent events. While they are personally devastated by the news regarding their brother, they emphasized that their primary concern is for the child whose life has been tragically impacted by someone who committed a terrible act of harm. They are heartbroken that someone vulnerable was hurt in this way.

Maddie and I have always cared deeply about protecting those who are vulnerable, and that will never change,” their message continued. “It’s horrifying to think someone would misuse their power to harass innocent people.

People requested prayers for the victim, described as brave, and for Joseph’s family. They noted the heartbreaking situation his children face, losing a father who should have guided them spiritually.

Josh is keenly aware of the damage that accusations can cause, his lawyer explained to the Daily Mail on March 20th. He personally understands how false claims can ruin someone’s life and how seeking publicity can distort the truth, turning it into a dramatic, but untrue, story.

I’ve been following this case closely, and it breaks my heart. I learned through the legal proceedings that Josh, who’s currently serving a 12-year sentence for a terrible crime, isn’t able to talk to his brother, Joseph, very often. Despite everything, Josh apparently still cares deeply and is hoping and praying for Joseph to get through this really tough time. It’s just…sad all around.

Joy-Anna shared on Instagram on March 26th that she was devastated by the recent news about her brother. She expressed her sympathy for the victim and said she’s been deeply upset and taking time to cope with the situation.

She added, “I will be taking some much-needed time with my family.”

On the March 25th episode of The Jinger & Jeremy Podcast, Jeremy shared that they had a challenging week, and they were taking time to process and pray about something before discussing it on the show.

Jinger, who relocated to Los Angeles with Jeremy in 2019, shared that she was deeply heartbroken this week. She described the pain and sadness they’ve experienced as unimaginable and incredibly difficult, especially considering the impact it’s had on others.

“It’s incredibly difficult,” she said. “When something like this happens, all you can do is pray for strength and help, because you can’t possibly be ready for news like that.”

In a statement to People magazine on March 20, Joseph’s cousin expressed feeling devastated, heartbroken, and furious. They said their primary concern was for the young victim, who should have been safe, cared for, and surrounded by trustworthy people.

Amy explained she was “utterly shocked to hear about these allegations and Joseph’s arrest.”

I’ve always believed in honesty, taking responsibility for your actions, and keeping children safe, even if it meant disagreeing with my own family. I believe that family relationships shouldn’t automatically guarantee trust or access, particularly when children’s well-being is at stake.

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2026-03-28 05:17