Duggar Family Reality Show
Jill Duggar was part of a reality show that followed the lives of her father, Jim Bob Duggar, his wife Michelle, and their 19 children.
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Filmed in their hometown of Tontitown, Arkansas, the show “19 Kids and Counting” followed the family’s daily lives and explored their strong patriarchal Christian beliefs.
Followers of Basic Life Principles
The Duggar family abides by the Institute in Basic Life Principals (IBLP), which states wives must obey the commands of their husbands, and in turn, the husband answers to God.
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The show ran for seven seasons until it was eventually canceled after Jim’s eldest son, Josh Duggar, was involved in a molestation scandal.
Jill Drops Bombshell on Podcast
In an interview on “The Unplanned Podcast” this past month, Jill and her husband, Derick Dillard, said they haven’t spoken with her father, Jim Bob Duggar, in “over a year.”
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The interview comes four months after the release of Jill’s book, “Counting the Cost,” which brings forth various accusations against her family.
Counting The Cost
Jill’s book was released last September. Throughout the work, the reality star alleges her father tried to “weaponize” her marriage with Derick and took most of her show earnings.
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According to Jill, she knew the release of “Counting The Cost” wouldn’t sit well with some members of her family. However, she had no intention of creating more controversy by speaking with them about the book.
Family Members Listened to Jill's Book
Speaking with “The Unplanned Podcast” hosts, Jill admits she’s heard rumors that her mother and father have read the book.
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“I heard they listened to it on an audiobook or something. I don’t know. They’re my parents, and I’m gonna tread lightly,” she said.
Sore Subject for Certain Family Members
The reality star admits that certain portions of her book likely made members of her family feel uncomfortable.
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“It’s kind of like when you get together at the holidays, and there are just certain things that you don’t just want to bring up,” Jill said on “The Unplanned Podcast” in January 2024. “It’s probably a sore subject.”
Toxic Family Culture
Derick Dillard, who frequently appeared on the reality show alongside Jill, spoke in an interview this past November. He claims the Duggar family’s “hierarchy” values, based on whoever had the most children, felt toxic at times.
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Jim Bob and Michelle encouraged their children to have as many babies as possible. Derick said the father and mother clarified, “Whoever has the most kids gets the house.”
No Money Filtering Down to Daughters
In one portion of the book, Jill mentions that at some point in the past, she realized the show and its spin-off, “Counting On,” must have been making good money, but she questioned where it was going.
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Jill and her husband admit they found it strange they got little to nothing from the show and eventually decided to confront her father about it.
Treated Worse than Pedophile Brother
In her book, Jill details the day she went to her father, asking to be paid for being on the show. He instantly refused, citing the show as an opportunity to “share with the world that children are a blessing.”
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Things got heated when Jill eventually found out that her oldest brother had been paid. In an argument with her father, she recalls shouting, “You treat me worse than you treat my pedophile brother.”
Jim Bob Finally Offers Payout
Not long after the heated engagement, Jill was shocked when her father called in all the older children and offered them a one-time payment of $80,000 for being on the show.
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While all of her siblings were ecstatic after hearing the news, Jill and Derick remained hesitant to accept. They later found out Jim had made around $8 million. In the end, Jill settled for $175,000.
Jill Dillard Doesn’t Hold Back
In the years that followed the show’s end, Jill never held back when interviewers asked about her relationship with her parents.
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In one chapter of her book, Jills recalls a threat from her father in which he said if she “continued to attack” him in the media, she would receive no inheritance.