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LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Following the release of the highly anticipated docuseries 'Shiny Happy People: Duggar Family Secrets' on Saturday, June 3, the hidden truths of the Duggar family have been brought to light. Amidst this revelation, Jim Bob Duggar's sister, Deanna Duggar, boldly turned to social media to shed light on what she perceives as her family's 'lies' and 'disguise'
The Duggars, headed by Jim and Michelle, gained fame for their large family of 19 children and their advocacy for strong family values. However, the image they carefully built was shattered when allegations arose against their eldest son, Josh Duggar, and his subsequent arrest for the possession of child pornography.
Who is Deanna Duggar?
Deanna Duggar, 61, is the sister of Jim Bob Duggar, who is known for being the patriarch of the Duggar family. She like all other family members gained fame through their reality TV show '19 Kids and Counting'. Deanna has gained attention for her outspokenness on social media, particularly regarding her family dynamics and the controversies surrounding them. She has been estranged from her brother and the rest of the Duggar family, expressing her disagreement with their actions and referring to them as a "fake family."
In one of her recent social posts from May reads, "Tell the Truth, or someone will share the truth for you!!! (sic)." Another post states, "You may tell the greatest lies and wear a brilliant disguise, but you can't escape the eyes of the one who sees right through you." In an attempt to find solace during these tumultuous times with her estranged family, Deanna's third post offers insight into her perspective, "God puts people in your life so you can learn from them, and they can learn from you. When the lessons are learned by both of you, God moves those people out of your life... So don't get upset when God moves people in and out of your life. God knows what He is doing!"
Deanna's shocking revelation and the unraveling of the Duggar family
Deanna is not the only member of the family who has been vocal about their grievances. Her daughter, Amy, who is 36 years old, has also taken a stand for what she believes to be the "truth" on her own social media platforms. Amy is also estranged from the family and openly refers to them as "toxic." On her TikTok bio, Amy writes, "The 'crazy' cousin turned out to be... normal," accompanied by a shrugging emoji. Amy has shown her support for the survivors of the Institute in Basic Life Principles (IBLP) and has posted parts of the documentary's trailer on her TikTok account, expressing her admiration for those who have shared their stories and stating that she will be watching the documentary.
"To the IBLP survivors: I just wanted you to know you are seen and you matter. Sharing your truth has got to be so unbelievably stressful and hard to talk about. But I think standing up for what is right is even harder because there's so much backlash that can come along with it," she captioned the post on TikTok. "The world will know what you have endured and will know very personal information about you and that alone is triggering. But I believe God can use this documentary for the greater good. Your story is so so beyond powerful and I'm thankful for the ones who are being loud enough to tell it."
'What in the world is going on?'
She added, "I think you are all incredibly strong and bold, and your vulnerability is beautiful and you're going to help open eyes and comfort millions of people. I admire all of you. Thank you for sharing your story with us. I'll be tuned in to watch and cry along with you this Friday."
The rift between Deanna and Jim started during Josh's case in 2021. Deanna recalls being shocked by the events and feeling deceived by the information she received from her family. "I was very shocked about everything that has happened. I was told some different things. It's a really complicated situation when you're told one thing, and something else happens," reported Daily Mail.
"I was watching our local news and we heard that homeland security stopped by Josh's car lot. I called one of the family members, and I asked if it was true, and they said, 'No, they just stopped by.' Homeland Security doesn't just stop by. I tried to make sense of it. What in the world is going on? I was told it was an ex-con [who downloaded the child pornography]. I kept trying to figure it out," she said as per Daily Mail.
Following Josh's arrest in 2021, a series of events unfolded that marked the beginning of the downfall of the Duggar family. Josh's prison sentence, initially set at 151 months (approximately 12.5 years), has recently been extended by nearly two additional months, with a new release date of October 2, 2032. Despite his conviction, the 35-year-old's wife, Anna Duggar, 34, stands by his side, continuing to raise their seven children. He is currently incarcerated at a federal corrections facility in Seagoville, Texas.
