Derick Dillard lives in a world where transgender people literally do not exist.
Based on this view, the former reality star has earned significant backlash online.
But it actually may not be the best example of how Dillard lives in his own, manufactured universe.
Not after the ex-Counting On regular responded a few days ago to statement about his status on this popular TLC program.
“Missing you and Jill on Counting On. Do not know why you are gone from the show,” wrote a fan of Derick’s this month, adding:
“Loved watching your journey. God Bless you, Jill and the kids.”
Dillard appreciated the message and wrote back:
“We were going in a different direction as a family and decided to stop doing filming.
“Thank you; we hope you are encouraged in some way by our journey, especially our reliance upon our savior, Jesus Christ.”
To anyone who has actually followed Dillard’s journey, this response is rich…
… and flat out inaccurate.
Last November, TLC issued a statement that said it had “no plans” to work with Dillard in the future after he made controversial statements about the LGBT community.
Specifically, Dillard insulted and mocked fellow reality star Jazz Jennings on multiple occasions, lashing out at her transgender lifestyle.
For example, just three weeks ago, Dillard labeled Jennings as a male, despite the teenager insisting in many occasions that she identities as female.
Long before this latest jab, Dillard took it upon himself to slam the entire concept of anyone identifying as a gender that he or she was not born as, Tweeting:
“What an oxymoron… a ‘reality’ show which follows a non-reality. ‘Transgender’ is a myth. Gender is not fluid; it’s ordained by God.”
At the time, Derick tried to state that he had nothing against Jennings herself; that he “only [has an] issue with the words and definitions being propagated here.”
So, you know, Dillard only has an issue with everything Jennings stands for. That’s all.
Several weeks after Derick first attacked Jennings and people like her, TLC confirmed it would never work with the bigot again.
We want to let our viewers know that Derick Dillard has not participated in Counting On for months, wrote the network late last year, adding:
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.
Could one interpret this as saying that Dillard CHOSE not participate in filming, as he claims above, and the network then simply let viewers know that it didn’t plan on including him going forward?
Yes.
But does anyone really doubt that Dillard would embrace the opportunity to enter the spotlight again via a role on the show if asked by producers?
After TLC Tweeted its quasi firing of the D-Lister, Dillard Tweeted the following:
“Thank you to all those who have supported us and given us so many words of encouragement recently. God bless you all!”
He also added a bible verse:
“A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. (Proverbs 17:22).”
Thankfully (or the exact opposite of thankfully), those who still want to hear from Dillard do not need to watch him each week on TLC in order to do so.
He’s happy to troll the universe with bizarre Tweets on a regular basis.
Follow him at your own risk.