Oprah Winfrey Refused To Have Duggars On Show After Molestation Tip

The Queen of daytime talk was scheduled to interview the Duggar family in 2006 but just one day before their big sit down, Oprah's team received an email that detailed Josh's molestation allegations and they immediately contacted authorities. Oprah Winfrey refused to interview the Duggars after her Harpo team received an anonymous tip that Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar were hiding an explosive family secret. Oprah was supposed to interview the entire family on Dec. 8, 2006 in Chicago but on Dec. 7, 2006 at 6:30am, Oprah's company received an email that not only exposed Josh Duggar's molestation bombshell but also that his family was covering it up. Even though the Duggars were already in Chicago to do the interview, she sent them packing.

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May 22, 2015 9:17AM EDT
Image Credit: Getty/Courtesy of TLC

Oprah Winfrey Refused To Have Duggars On Show After Molestation Tip

When Oprah’s team received the email they sent it to a child abuse hotline, reports TMZ. The Arkansas State Police immediately reached out to Michelle and told them they needed to speak to Josh, now 27-years-old, immediately back in their hometown. Oprah then cancelled the taping and that’s when the Duggars hired an attorney.

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The molestations happened in 2002 and 2003 when Josh was 14. The reality star groped genitals and breasts of 5 girls, several of whom were sleeping, according to the police report obtained by InTouch.

The molestations were not reported to police until 2006 and by then the statute of limitations had already passed and Josh could not be prosecuted.

Josh Apologizes For Molesting Minors In Statement

Josh resigned from the Family Research Council, May 21, 2015 and released the following statement:

Twelve years ago, as a young teenager, I acted inexcusably for which I am extremely sorry and deeply regret. I hurt others, including my family and close friends,” he told People. “I confessed this to my parents who took several steps to help me address the situation. 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. I understood that if I continued down this wrong road that I would end up ruining my life.

Josh’s parents, Jim Bob, 49, and Michelle, 48, also released their own statement, declaring that they’ll continue to stand behind their son. They said:

“Back 12 years ago our family went through one of the most difficult times of our lives. When Josh was a young teenager, he made some very bad mistakes, and we were shocked. We had tried to teach him right from wrong. That dark and difficult time caused us to seek God like never before.”

Josh’s wife, Anna Duggar released her own thoughts after the news broke of her husband’s scandalous past.

I can imagine the shock many of you are going through reading this. I remember feeling that same shock. When my family and I first visited the Duggar home, Josh shared his past teenage mistakes. I was surprised at his openness and humility and at the same time didn’t know why he was sharing it. For Josh, he wanted not just me but my parents to know who he really was – even very difficult past mistakes

HollywoodLifers, will you continue to watch the Duggars on their reality show?

— Chloe Melas