The reality TV network TLC has officially pulled the plug on “Counting On” following the disturbing child pornography allegations against Josh Duggar.
Duggar was arrested in April on federal charges of possessing child pornography. If he’s convicted, the 33-year-old former TV star could face 20 years in prison and up to a quarter of a million dollars in fines.
It was reported in early May that authorities found more than 200 images of child pornography, or child sexual abuse material, on Duggar’s computer. Gerald Faulkner, a Homeland Security agent, described the findings as within the “top five of the worst of the worst” he’d ever examined.
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Faulkner said Duggar downloaded files that included “a series of child sexual abuse material involving minor children ranging from about 18 months of age to 12 years of age.”
For his part, Duggar has pleaded not guilty and is awaiting a November trial.
ABC News reported Wednesday that TLC made the decision to cancel “Counting On” — a spinoff of the original series, “17 Kids and Counting” — to give the Duggars the “opportunity to address their situation privately.”
“TLC will not be producing additional seasons of ‘Counting On,'” the network said in a statement to ABC. “TLC feels it is important to give the Duggar family the opportunity to address their situation privately.”
It should be noted “Counting On” debuted in 2015, after TLC made the decision to pull “19 Kids and Counting” from its lineup following reports Josh Duggar, the family’s eldest child, molested his underage sisters as a young teenager.
TLC said at the time it was “deeply saddened and troubled” by the development.
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Jinger Vuolo, one of the stars of “Counting On” and a sibling to Josh Duggar, said in a statement shared to Instagram that she is “grateful” for the time she and her family were on the air.
“It’s been a remarkable journey that has opened doors to traveling and experiencing the world in a way that we wouldn’t have imagined possible,” she wrote. “We wholeheartedly agree with TLC’s decision not to renew ‘Counting On’ and are excited for the next chapter in our lives.”