19 Kids and Counting isn’t a sure thing in the future–at least as far as TLC is concerned. And even if they opt to bring the show back without Josh Duggar, they may have trouble paying to keep it on the air.
Since the Josh Duggar sexual molestation scandal has erupted–Duggar sexually molested five underage girls, four of whom are his sisters, as a teen–TLC has been weighing the odds as to what the fate of 19 Kids and Counting should be. Advertisers may make that decision for them, however.
On Tuesday morning, Choice Hotels International announced they were pulling their advertising from all future episodes of 19 Kids and Counting. Payless Shoe Source also announced on Tuesday that they are in the process of removing all of their ads, too.
General Mills has already removed 19 Kids and Counting from its advertising schedule. Walgreens is considering what it will do.
@moaevil Thank you for reaching out. We share your concerns and we have decided to remove our advertising from the show.
— Choice Hotels (@ChoiceHotels) May 26, 2015
@SweetBabbyJesus Our ads ran during this show as part of a larger buy w/ TLC. We are taking steps to have them removed from future episodes.
— Payless ShoeSource (@PaylessInsider) May 26, 2015
TLC immediately yanked its episodes of 19 Kids and Counting from its schedule Friday, the day after word of Josh Duggar’s sexual abuse became news. The show has been on the air since 2008 and is in its 15th season.
'19 Kids and Counting' Loses Advertisers Following Josh Duggar Scandal http://t.co/NluE5Se4eB pic.twitter.com/tSHMsh3RwL
— Hollywood Reporter (@THR) May 26, 2015
TLC pulled Here Comes Honey Boo Boo from its lineup when word of June Shannon dating a child molester hit the media.
Do you expect more advertisers will opt not to advertise during 19 Kids and Counting? Might that ultimately seal the Duggar family’s fate?