According to a report released by TMZ, Oprah Winfrey knew about Josh Duggar’s molestation accusations as far back as 2006.
Josh Duggar, one of the cast of 19 Kids and Counting on TLC, has been in the middle of an incredible scandal that has out the future of his family’s show at potential risk.
Accusations sirfaced that Josh Duggar molested five girls when he was 14 years old. Duggar himself issued a statement verifying that he had “acted inexcusably.” He spoke about “the situation” and how he had “received counseling.”
Josh’s parents, Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar, also issued a statement calling Josh’s actions a “mistake.” The family has come under fire for what some are calling a cover-up and a hypocritical position given Michelle Duggar’s publicstatements that LGBT folks are “child predators.”
The Duggars will demonize LGBT folk while passing off the incestual molestation their son was involved in as a "mistake". #JoshDuggar
— Sarah Johnson (@commonjohnson) May 22, 2015
TMZ’s report that Oprah’s production company knew about the charges back in 2006 is a new wrinkle. According to the report, the Duggar family was slated to appear on Oprah’s show. Then, on December 7, 2006 at 6:30 AM, an email was sent to the Harpo Productions staff that accused Josh Duggar of molestation and claimed that his family had covered it up.
The report further states that Oprah’s people sent the email to a child abuse hotline and canceled the interview with the Duggars that very day. Then “an Arkansas State Police officer contacted Michelle, telling her she needed to bring Josh back home immediately for an interview.”
"You can't judge the Duggars!" Actually, this is something I feel very comfortable judging. #CancelTheDuggars
— Kayleigh Anne (@Ceilidhann) May 22, 2015
The timeline on this is worth noting. The report says this all happened in 2006. Josh Duggar’s statement said that the whole thing happened “twelve years ago” — in 2003. Josh has also said, “We spoke with the authorities where I confessed my wrongdoing, and my parents arranged for me and those affected by my actions to receive counseling.”
If this report is correct, it would seem that either Josh’s actions took place as many as three years before he spoke to police, or he has had to address this with police more than once.