Derick Dillard is persona non grata at TLC.
The network has gone ahead and made this official.
Back in August, the 28-year old husband of Jill Duggar made headlines when he attacked 17-year old transgender Jazz Jennings, who, like Derick’s wife and her family, has a show on TLC.
Seemingly unprompted by anything other than the fact that Jennings stars on I Am Jazz, Dillard wrote on Instagram at the time:
“What an oxymoron… a ‘reality’ show which follows a non-reality. ‘Transgender’ is a myth. Gender is not fluid; it’s ordained by God.”
Jennings mostly took the high road in response, labeling Dillard a cyberbully and saying that she’s unfortunately accustomed to remarks from people such as him.
Fast forward to late last week and Derick was at it again, writing the following on Twitter:
I pity Jazz, 4 those who take advantage of him in order 2 promote their agenda, including the parents who allow these kinds of decisions 2 be made by a child.
It’s sad that ppl would use a juvenile this way.
Again, nothing against him, just unfortunate what’s on TV these days.
Ah yes, the classing “nothing against” the person whose lifestyle one thinks is sinful and shameful.
Derick added that “never bullied anyone,” but “just said I didn’t agree with what is being propagated on TV” and is “expressing my view of what should be treated as reality; if I say I feel like I am Nepali, that doesn’t make me so.”
In response to this most recent attack Jazz did not mention Derick by name.
But tweeted on Saturday:
“In the face of constant ignorance and hatred I prefer to disregard negative opinions and continue moving forward with love.”
TLC, meanwhile, was not as even-handed in its latest statement.
On its official Twitter account, the cable network wrote this:
We want to let our viewers know that Derick Dillard has not participated in Counting On for months and the network has no plans to feature him in the future.
We want to reiterate that Derick’s personal statements do not reflect the views of the network.
TLC is proud to share the story of Jazz Jennings and her family and will continue to do so.
Some Duggar/Dillard fans, naturally, have fired back, claiming Derick is simply exercising his right to “free speech.”
Which is true. He’s not about to be imprisoned for his view.
But the right to free speech doesn’t mean one can say absolutely anything without any consequences.
The general future of Counting On remains unclear.
There has been chatter of late that the series may not return for a new season, largely due to Dillard’s ongoing controversial comments.
What do you think about what Derick said and how TLC responded?
Should the network finally cut ties with this family once and truly for all?
