SEAGOVILLE, TEXAS: An old report from 2015 concerning Josh Duggar, a member of the infamous Duggar family, has resurfaced amidst their return to the public eye in the explosive documentary titled 'Shiny Happy People: Duggar Family Secrets'. The report alleged that Josh had maintained multiple accounts on the notorious Ashley Madison website, a platform designed to facilitate extramarital affairs.
According to the allegations, Josh was actively seeking a partner who was characterized as a "naughty girl, aggressive, with a high sex drive," as stated on his Ashley Madison profile. The account further revealed his inclination towards various sexual activities, including "conventional sex, experimenting with sex toys, one-night stands, sharing fantasies, sex talk," and more.
Ashley Madison data breach
As reported by Gawker, one of the accounts linked to Josh was closed around the same time it first became public knowledge that he had molested four of his siblings during his teenage years. The revelation emerged in the wake of a major data breach, orchestrated by hackers, that exposed personal information from Ashley Madison's controversial seduction forum, which boasted a staggering user base of 37 million individuals worldwide.
Notably, the website did not verify user addresses at the time, raising the possibility that many individuals could have registered using false or borrowed contact details. However, Gawker claimed that the evidence against Duggar went beyond mere email addresses. The report disclosed, "A credit card registered under the name Joshua J Duggar, with a billing address matching the Fayetteville, Arkansas residence owned by his grandmother Mary—a location prominently featured on their now-defunct television show, and where Anna Duggar gave birth to their first child—was used to pay a total of $986.76 for two separate monthly Ashley Madison subscriptions between February 2013 and May 2015."
'Aggressive/take charge girl'
Additionally, it was revealed that a second account associated with Josh was created in July 2013, with a listed address in Oxon Hill, Maryland. At that time, Josh, along with his wife and children, resided in this home while working as a family values lobbyist for the Family Research Council in Washington DC. His profile on Ashley Madison indicated a preference for a specific type of woman, characterized as a "naughty girl, aggressive/take charge girl, high sex drive, creative, and adventurous."
Interestingly, the first account listed a birthdate of February 3, 1988, while the second account listed March 2, 1988, just one day before Josh's actual birthday on March 3, 1988. The second account remained active and was reportedly paid on a monthly basis until May 2015. Gawker's investigation also uncovered an active OkCupid account attributed to Josh, where he allegedly used a fake profile picture.
For seven years, the Duggar family captivated audiences with their wholesome image and showcased their expansive brood on the popular TLC reality show '19 Kids and Counting'. However, in 2015, the show faced cancellation following the revelation that the eldest child, Josh Duggar, had committed acts of molestation against his sisters and a babysitter during his teenage years. That same year, Josh publicly confessed to infidelity, casting a dark shadow over his marriage.
Despite the cancellation of '19 Kids and Counting', the Duggar family continued their television endeavors with a spinoff series titled 'Jill & Jessa: Counting On', which focused on Josh's sisters and their own families. Unfortunately, this show too met its demise after Josh's arrest in 2021 on charges related to child pornography possession. Subsequently, he was found guilty and sentenced to more than 12 years in prison.
The recently released documentary, "Shiny Happy People," argues that Josh Duggar's abusive behavior was not an isolated incident. By delving into the Duggars' upbringing within a cult-like environment, led by an accused sexual predator who advocated for unwavering obedience and submission among women and children, the series presents Josh's abuse as a tragic outcome rather than a shocking revelation.
The hotly-anticipated four-part limited docuseries is set to premiere on Friday, June 2, exclusively on Amazon Prime.
