It’s only been six weeks since Joseph Duggar and Kendra Caldwell got married, but already, the newlyweds find themselves at the center of a controversy.
The latest Duggar mini-scandal has nothing to do with the Joe and Kendra’s actions since saying “I do,” however.
Instead, it seems fans are irate about something that took place before their massive wedding.
TLC recently uploaded a video taken just days before Joseph and Kendra exchanged vows.
The footage shows the young couple enjoying a picnic and discussing their plans for married life.
“I think it’s gonna be exciting to move into our first house together,” Kendra says at one point.
“And doing some of the ministry stuff again … Doing the singing and the outreach. It’ll be great to get back.”
Kendra adds:
“I think I’m also looking forward to getting back into a normal schedule. Maybe cook some meals together.”
For his part, Joe says simply:
“I’m looking forward to making more memories like this with you.”
So what’s so controversial about that?
Well, nothing really, but the outing appears to differ from Joe and Kendra’s other dates in one significant way:
In the past, Joseph and Kendra’s dates were chaperoned by members of his massive family.
In fact, the Duggars proved the lengths Joe and Kendra went to to safeguard their own chastity by posting footage of a rollerblading date on which the pair was kept in line by the presence of Joe’s younger brothers.
(Fact: no rollerblading date has ever resulted in sex.)
Fans believe the pre-wedding picnic presented in the new clip shows Joe and Kendra on an un-chaperoned date, which would put them in violation of the Duggar rules of courtship.
(No, camera crews don’t count as chaperones according to the Duggar Code of Conduct.)
Naturally, critics have been quick to attack the young couple for their alleged hypocrisy.
But we’ve gone full Zapruder film with this footage, and after hours of painstaking frame-by-frame investigation, we now believe Joe and Kendra are being unfairly criticized.
In the first several seconds of the video, an unidentified third party can be seen following close behind Joe and Kendra.
We don’t know who it is, but it’s worth noting that woman is dressed according to the Duggar rules regarding female attire.
Is it one of Joe’s sisters?
A trusted family friend, perhaps?
We don’t know, but we’re guessing it’s safe to assume Joe and Kendra didn’t give into their biological urges right there in front of the cameras.
Watch Counting On online for more from reality TV’s most controversial couple.