Michelle (L) and Jim Bob Duggar (Getty)
TLC has officially canceled the hit TV series 19 Kids and Counting on Thursday according to the AP. This comes on the heels of the ongoing child molestation scandal that broke in May.
Here is what we know so far.
1. TLC Has Canceled ’19 Kids and Counting’
Michelle Duggar (L) and Jim Bob Duggar (Getty)
According the AP, the show, which featured Arkansas evangelical couple Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar, as well as their many kids, will “no longer appear on the air.”
The show was a major hit for TLC, with 10 seasons and more than 227 episodes.
2. The Cancelation is a Result of the Ongoing Molestation Scandal
The Duggar Family of The Learning Channel TV show “19 Kids and Counting” (Getty)
The show, and its central family, has faced intense scrutiny and critisim after the revelation from a 2006 police report that Josh Duggar, age 27, molested five children, including four of his own sisters. A petition on Change.org had also been making the rounds, requesting that TLC pull the show from its airwaves.
Following the scandal, more than 20 advertisers, including Walgreens, General Mills, and Pizza Hut pulled their ads from the air.
3. TLC Has Tried to Raise Awareness for Child Abuse
FOX News Channel’s Megyn Kelly sits down with the Duggar children of the TLC program “19 Kids and Counting” (Getty)
TLC recently announced that they would also team up with two child protection agencies, RAINN and Darkness to Light, to raise awareness for the issue of child sexual abuse.
This will begin with an hour long documentary airing this summer.
4. TLC Is Considering a Spin-Off.
FOX News Channel’s Megyn Kelly with Jim Bob Duggar (Getty)
According to a May 2015 report from TMZ, TLC had been exploring its options for the show, including cancelation. One option that they had suggested was a spin-off show that would feature newlyweds Jill Duggar and Derick Dillard.
TLC had also reportedly considered continuing the show without Josh, or keeping it on the air as it was.
5. TLC Released a Statement on the Cancelation
Republican Presidential candidate, former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum and his wife Karen have lunch with members of the Duggar family (Getty)
TLC’s officially released a statement on their Twitter account regarding the scandal, drawing attention to advocacy for victims and their families. The official statement can be found below.
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TLC Cancels 19 Kids and Counting: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know