As you’re likely aware, the Duggars receive a fair amount of criticism for just about everything they do.
And these days, Jill Duggar and Derick Dillard seem to have the largest targets on their backs.
Often, this criticism is warranted, such as when Jill seemed to endorse abusive disciplinary techniques in a message to other moms.
Just as frequently, however, the attacks are the result of misdirected outrage, and the Dillards end up bearing the brunt of the lingering anger over her family’s legitimate scandals.
(For an example of this phenomenon, see the seething rage that resulted from a photo in which Jill put a tortilla on her son’s head as a makeshift sun-blocking device.)
Perhaps the Dillards are subjected to greater scrutiny as a result of the fact that Derick has been fired by TLC.
Not only has there been a considerable amount of thoroughly justified outrage over the comments and actions that led to Derick’s termination, but social media is now fans’ only insight into the Dillard family’s world.
As a result, followers seem more likely to comb through every post in search of a reason to get upset.
Whatever the case, the latest Dillard-based outrage is without question one of the more absurd Duggar-based controversies to date.
Earlier this week, Derick posted the above photo along with the following caption:
“My wifey @jillmdillard makes the best pre-marathon race meals! Thanks babe!”
He also added the hashtags, “#carbs, #familytime, #matchingshirts, #hogeyemarathon, and #firstmarathoninnorthamerica.”
Any guesses as to what might have stoked the flames of internet outrage? It’s a tough one!
We’ll give you a hint: the keto crowd has not come out en masse to gripe about Derick’s apparent love of carbs.
No, it seems the issue here is that the word “wifey” has joined the list of everything else on the planet as something that’s now deemed offensive.
“Never say the word wifey like ever again,” wrote one commenter.
“Wifey is a derogatory term to some. May want to look that up,”
When one fan quite reasonably suggested that Derick probably meant it as a simple term of endearment, another shot back that he’s basically a fundamentalist pimp, subtly instructing his followers in the ways of female subjugation.
“It means a sex object, not quite good enough to be a wife,” the fan argued.
Look, we suppose it’s possible that Derick intended to degrade his wife for the benefit of his followers, but if they’re being honest with themselves, even his most ardent detractors would have to admit that’s not the most likely explanation.
No, obviously, the real outrage here is that overly-sensitive Instagram commenters are forcing us to defend Derick Dillard.
We’ll never forgive you for this, people!
Watch Counting On online for more from reality TV’s most controversial family.
