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Reality TV show pulled over star’s sordid past

A US cable network has pulled all episodes of its top-rated television reality show which features a large Christian family after reports surfaced that the eldest son molested underage girls as a teen.

Earlier this week, In Touch published a document it said it obtained from Arkansas’ Springdale Police Department alleging multiple instances in which 19 Kids and Counting star Josh Duggar molested underage girls.

The police department told the Reuters news agency that Mr Duggar had never been arrested on the allegations and that it had received a court order to destroy all copies of the document to protect an alleged victim.

Mr Duggar, 27, issued an apology on Thursday, acknowledging “wrongdoing”, but did not directly address the allegations reported by In Touch magazine and other websites.

“Twelve years ago, as a young teenager, I acted inexcusably for which I am extremely sorry and deeply regret,” he said in a statement posted on the Duggar Family Facebook page.

“I hurt others, including my family and close friends.”

His parents, Jim Bob and Michelle, also issued a statement, saying their family was not perfect.

“When Josh was a young teenager, he made some very bad mistakes and we were shocked,” the statement read.

“Even though we would never choose to go through something so terrible, each one of our family members drew closer to God.

“We pray that as people watch our lives, they see that we are not a perfect family.”

The TLC network, which is owned by Discovery Communications, has pulled all episodes of the show but did not say if it was planning to cancel 19 Kids and Counting.

“We are deeply saddened and troubled by this heartbreaking situation, and our thoughts and prayers are with the family and victims at this difficult time,” TLC said in a statement.

The program, which has been on the air since 2008 and concluded its 10th season this month, is not currently in production.

It chronicles the struggles and triumphs of the conservative family in Arkansas.

After the reports surfaced, Mr Duggar resigned from his job at the Family Research Council, a Christian lobbying group based in Washington, DC.

But the family has received support from an influential conservative voice, former Arkansas governor and presidential candidate Mike Huckabee.

“Josh’s actions when he was an underage teen are as he described them himself, ‘inexcusable’, but that doesn’t mean ‘unforgivable’,” Mr Huckabee said on his Facebook page.

“He and his family dealt with it and were honest and open about it with the victims and the authorities.”

The Duggar family, whose TV success has made them staples of celebrity magazines, did not respond to requests for comment after TLC pulled the show’s episodes.

Reuters

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