Jill Duggar is generally not one to make waves.
The second-eldest daughter of Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar, Jill has spent the majority of her life meeting the demands of her ludicrously strict upbringing.
On the reality shows that made her family famous, Jill quickly emerged as a fan favorite, modest enough to appeal to the fundamentalist segment of the Duggars’ fan base, but independent enough to give hope to those who watch in … that she and her sisters will one day break away.
When Jill married Derick Dillard in 2014, however, her public image took a turn for the worse.
Brash and abrasive where Jill was meek and kind, Derick quickly became a divisive figure amongst Duggar fans.
Last year, Derick was fired from Counting On after making comments about fellow TLC star Jazz Jennings that many considered transphobic.
Jill quit the show in a gesture of solidarity, thus leaving her young family with no source of income.
These days, Jill has a lot of time on her hands, and she often uses it to post on social media, despite frequently disturbing fans with her content.
This week Jill posted a list of prayers for her children that many took as evidence of bigotry.
The items on the list were mostly innocuous concerns, such as “Their salvation,” “That they would be kept morally pure,” “That they would love each other.”
But the last prayer struck a nerve with fans, many of whom considered it further evidence of Jill’s transphobia.
The response from Instagram users was swift and harsh, with some accusing Jill of rank hypocrisy:
“But it’s ok to be a homophobic, cheating molester who is literally making money from having their family on a reality show,” wrote one fan.
The comments seem to refer to both Josh Duggar – who molested five young girls while living under his parents’ roof – and
Now, Jill is criticized on social media quite regularly, with followers taking issue with everything from her parenting to her wardrobe.
But this time is different in that Jill actually replied:
“I have never said those actions were ok.”
Now, that may seem like a very mild response, but as many have pointed out, it constitutes the first time that Jill has expressed any misgivings about the behavior or beliefs of her brother and husband.
Perhaps this is the beginning of a new day for Jill.
Maybe she’ll finally join the rest of the world in calling the male members of her family out for their more problematic actions.
What seems more likely, however, is that Jill has simply grown tired of being lumped in with men like Derick and Josh.
Some feel that she’s complicit with their behavior, while others see Jill as a victim.
Whatever the case, she’s clearly fed up with being associated with the more shameful aspects of her family history.
Watch Counting On online for more on the ever-controversial Duggar clan of Arkansas.
