Josh Duggar reportedly blamed his parents for his negative standing in the public eye after he was convicted for receiving and possessing child sexual abuse materials.
In a series of text messages between Josh and his mother, Michelle Duggar, that were obtained by People and published on Tuesday, May 5, the former 19 Kids and Counting star takes issue with the family’s attempts to distance themselves from him and the entire situation.
“[I] am very disappointed. I feel like you just don’t receive criticism or take admission for your own actions THAT HAVE DIRECTLY AFFECTED (sic) MY LIFE, including in this situation,” Josh allegedly wrote in a text message roughly a week after he was sentenced to 151 months in prison in 2022.
In the text messages, the father of seven continues to maintain his innocence, which he says impacts him more as his family should believe him and treat the situation accordingly.
“I just think you don’t get it. you don’t understand how you have hurt me and you keep trying to make yourselves ‘look good’ instead of trying to be concerned about your responses to my charges or anything else in my life,” Josh wrote in a different text message.
In a text sent before the sentencing, Josh reportedly told his mother that she is worrying “about pr more than anything else.”
“[T]he public statements and pr work to save shows and public images i feel were placed above family relationships … and still are to this day,” he wrote.
He added, “Consider your role and change so that other children are not in the same situations later.”
According to People, Michelle did not directly respond to any of Josh’s allegations. She did, however, tell him that she loves him and passed along messages from other members of the family.
In an April 23 TikTok video, his cousin, Amy Duggar, claimed that Josh had recently been placed in solitary confinement for violating prison rules. She also alleged that his release date has been pushed back. While Josh was initially supposed to be released in August 2032, People reported that it’s now set for February 2033.
