Back in May of 2015, the Josh Duggar sex scandals devastated the wholesome public image the 19 Kids and Counting clan had spent years cultivating.
Amazingly, the family was able to make a comeback (sans Josh, of course), but the intervening years have been loaded with controversy, due in part to increased scrutiny of Jim Bob and Michelle’s parenting methods.
Now, fans are concerned that the famously strict parents are mistreating their 9-year-old daughter, Jordyn Duggar.
The speculation comes as a result of an odd video posted by the Duggars in celebration of Jordyn’s recent birthday.
The clip, which appeared yesterday on the Duggars’ official Facebook page, shows Jordyn standing on a chair as her family sings her praises.
“Jordyn, we love you so much. You’re such a special girl,” Jim Bob tells his visibly uncomfortable daughter.
From there, Michelle takes over and tells the tale of finding Jordyn’s birthday outfit at a “really ginormous thrift store,” which she credits God for recommending.
In Touch Weekly observed that Jordyn “looks totally scared and covers her chest while her dad grips her shoulders, and flinches every time her mom touches her.”
That may sound like an exaggeration, but the girl does seem rather nervous and out of sorts in the clip.
Several fans rushed to the Duggars’ defense, suggesting that Jordyn might not have enjoyed being the center of attention:
“I suspect Jordyn is a bit shy and a little embarrassed at all the attention. She cracked a few sweet, teeny smiles — especially for her daddy,” one fan commented.
“She’s just a very shy young girl. There is nothing sinister going on in the home. She loves her parents very much, and was not pulling away from them,” another remarked.
“She was standing on a chair, and possibly felt unstable on it. Why are people so nasty and assume the worst?”
On its own, the clip may seem innocent, but coming as it does amidst a slew of Duggar parenting scandals, the situation is raising a lot of red flags, especially amongst those who were already critical of the family.
Obviously, the video doesn’t capture any behavior that could be described as abusive (unless the Jesus-centric birthday song meets your definition), but many feel that Jordyn is showing signs of having recently suffered some sort of trauma.
Of particular concern is the fact that she seems to shy away from her parents and avoid physical contact.
If this were a photo of an anonymous child and her unknown parents, it’s likely that Jordyn’s body language would be attributed to bashfulness.
But knowing what we know about the Duggars, it’s impossible not to look for signs of abuse, and many fans figure it’s best to err on the side of caution and call the parents out at every opportunity.
Watch Counting On online for more from reality TV’s most controversial family.
