Jinger Duggar: Has She Fully Rejected Her Family"s Beliefs?

It’s been over a year since Jinger Duggar started wearing pants in public, and Duggar obsessives still just can’t get over it.

It may sound like a pretty minor development in the young woman’s life.

After all, wearing pants is such a commonplace activity that the act of putting them on one leg at a time is the universal symbol of relatability.

But as with Dobby the House Elf before her, a simple article of clothing represents freedom and a new beginning for Jinger.

If you’re a fan of her family’s, then you’re probably already aware that Jinger grew up observing the strict Duggar dress code.

That means she wore below-the-knee skirts at all times, even when engaging in sports or other outdoor activities.

Shortly after she married Jeremy Vuolo, however, Jinger broke the bonds of floor-length denim.

Granted, the rebellious spirit of her sartorial choice is somewhat dampened by the fact that she needed her husband’s permission to start wearing pants, but still – Jinger is living her best life, and she wants the whole world to see it.

Jeremy posted the above photo of himself and Jinger on Instagram earlier this week.

The pic was taken during a stop at a Waco, Texas store owned by Fixer Upper stars Chip and Joanna Gaines.

“Anytime we’re driving to North Texas, #magnolia is a mandatory pit-stop,” Vuolo captioned the pic

Fans who follow Jinger and Jeremy on social media know that this is far from their first visit to the Gaines’ flagship store.

In fact, it looks as though Jinger and Jeremy are hardcore Gainers.

(Yes, we just invented that term for Chip and Joanna fans.)

Now, it may not seem like a very big deal that Jinger is a rabid follower of two popular reality stars.

But those who are well-acquainted with the beliefs of the Duggar family will know that children are taught from a young age that virtually all forms of secular entertainment are shunned. 

So not only is Jinger wearing pants, she’s also watching television shows that have nothing to do with Jesus.

You might think that wouldn’t upset her parents very much, considering they built their fortune on reality TV, but the Duggars consider themselves exemptions to the secular entertainment rule.

Jim Bob claims that he values television only as a means of furthering his ministry.

The tens of millions of dollars he’s made are just a sort of bonus, we guess.

Anyway, Jim Bob probably isn’t as forgiving in his view of Chip and Joanna, which means he probably isn’t too keen on Jinger publicly expressing her fandom.

Unfortunately for JB, it doesn’t look as though Jinger is planning to surrender her newfound freedom anytime soon,

Watch Counting On online for more from reality TV’s most controversial family.

View Slideshow: Jinger Duggar: Secrets & Scandals of the Family Rebel!

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Derick Dillard Under Fire For Atheist Sympathies: Has He Abandoned His Beliefs?

It’s been quite an interesting few months in the life of Derick Dillard.

It all started, of course, when Derick got fired by TLC after harassing transgender teen and fellow network star Jazz Jennings in a bizarre Twitter tirade.

Derick issued an explanation for his remarks that he probably thinks qualifies as an apology, but fans weren’t buying it, and most seemed happy to see him go.

Earlier this week, Derick doubled down on his homophobia by promoting a speaking engagement by a pastor who became famous for his support of the abhorrent practice of conversion therapy.

It briefly seemed that Derick had taken an “in for a penny, in for a pound” approach to his own bigotry and decided that since he’d already been fired from TLC, the time was right to rebrand himself as a far-right firebrand.

Today, however, something interesting occurred on Derick’s Twitter page.

“I want to personally invite any LGBTQ person & anyone else who would like to come with my family and me to church next Sunday. See you there!” Derick tweeted.

These days, it seems that Derick is supporting his family almost entirely through monetary donations from fans, so many were suspicious that the tweet was simply a publicity stunt or part of an effort to rebuild his image.

But some expressed an interest in taking him up on the invitation.

One woman identified herself as an atheist and asked if it was okay for her to attend services with Derick and his family.

The former reality star astonished many Duggar fans when he responded, “Absolutely!”

Some expressed outright shock that Derick would invite someone whose beliefs are so different from his own into his house of worship.

The mini-controversy comes on the heels of reports that Derick’s wife, Jill Duggar, had turned her back on her beliefs due to an Instagram post in which she revealed that she’s reading a book with sections addressed to those who are questioning their faith in God.

In the end, however, it turned out there was really nothing to either scandal.

Jill was simply offering support to those whose belief had wavered, while Derick is apparently hoping to convert some non-believers, which is actually one of the expressed duties of Independent Baptists.

Oh, well. We’re sure a legitimate Derick scandal will pop up soon enough.

In the meantime, watch Counting On online for more from reality TV’s most controversial family.

View Slideshow: Derick Dillard Labels Transgender Movement as Form of Child Abuse

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Duggar Family Accused of Faking Religious, Political Beliefs

For nearly a decade now, the Duggars have served as TV’s most high-profile representatives of a certain segment of the US population.

Television execs rarely seek out arch-conservative, evangelical middle Americans when they’re casting reality shows, but the Duggars found a way to secure a massive platform for their highly controversial views.

In a sense, they snuck their beliefs in through the backdoor.

At first, it wasn’t the Duggars extremist views that TLC was interested in, but rather their proclivity for breeding.

After a one-off documentary special generated controversy and attracted higher ratings than expected, the Duggars were contracted for a full series.

Originally entitled 17 Kids and Counting (the Duggar brood would eventually balloon to an astonishing 19 children), the show proved to be a surprise hit for the network, and it ran for 10 seasons before being canceled as a result of public outrage over the Josh Duggar sex scandals.

It’s a testament to the popularity of the show that TLC proved reluctant to cancel it amidst a child molestation scandal, and then gave the Duggars another shot with a spinoff series entitled Counting On.

Of course, from Octomom to the Bates family of Up TV’s Bringing Up Bates, large families are not in short supply, but none has captured viewers’ imaginations quite like the Duggars.

The reason for this seems to be that their shows are less about the size of the family, and more about the devoutly religious–some would say cult-like–way in which Jim Bob and Michelle raise their children.

It’s safe to assume that were it not for their ultra-conservative views, fans likely would have lost interest in the Duggars long ago.

Some “hate-watch” to gawk at bizarre dress codes and “courtship rules,” while others take copious notes in hopes of pursuing more godly lives.

But the head honchos at TLC likely aren’t interested in the reasons that viewers keep tuning in, so long as the ratings hold steady.

Of course, these days, most Americans are savvy enough to know that “reality TV” is a misnomer, and the events depicted in shows like Counting On are frequently scripted and staged.

It’s impossible to determine just how inaccurate our impression of the Duggars is, but it’s a certainty that not everything we’ve seen on their various series is true to life.

We at THG have conducted interviews with former associates of the Duggars who spoke of behind-the-scenes conflicts, compulsive spending, and other aspects of life on the Duggar conduct that are carefully hidden from public view.

With a few notable exceptions–the Josh scandals being the most obvious–the Duggars have done an impressive job of sweeping the more unsavory aspects of their lives under the carpet.

As their children grow up and leave the nest to start families of their own, however, new cracks seem to appear in the family’s carefully-constructed facade every day.

And the situation has left some fans wondering if the Duggars are really as conservative as they seem.

The questions began around the time that Jinger Duggar started wearing pants in photos posted to social media.

As fans of the family know, Duggar women are required to wear long skirts at all times, even when playing sports or engaged in other outdoor activities.

Jinger’s public act of defiance was seen by many as a brazen rejection of the values with which she was raised.

Seemingly inspired by her younger sister’s example, Jessa Duggar began wearing pants shortly thereafter.

Just last week, Jill Duggar mounted a minor rebellion of her own, sporting a small facial piercing on Instagram.

Obviously, these are all very tame and innocuous acts of disobedience, but coupled with other indications that the younger generation is more liberal than expected–Ben Seewald’s support of the Black Lives Matter movement being a prime example–the sisters’ public rejection of their well-known dress code raises a lot of questions about just what the Duggars believe.

Jim Bob Duggar has worn many hats over the years, but for the past decade, he’s been first and foremost a media mogul.

He has a keen sense of what sells and what viewers want from him.

He also knows that it’s his family’s extremist belief system that keeps viewers coming back, not the astonishing size of the Duggar clan.

To be clear, the Duggars are almost certainly far more conservative in their religious and political views than just about any other family on television.

But it seems more and more as though they’re concealing their more moderate views for the sake of preserving their public image.

Watch Counting On online for more from reality TV’s most famous family.

View Slideshow: Duggar Family Members: The Official Power Rankings!

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Derick Dillard Feuds With Fan Over Religious Beliefs on Twitter

Derick Dillard just can’t seem to steer clear of conflict these days.

The 28-year-old husband of Jill Duggar has been such a burden to his in-laws’ public image lately that he’s been dubbed “the new Josh Duggar.” 

Obviously, that nickname is way over the top, as it’s not like Dillard has been involved in any sort of sex scandal, but his combative persona has resulted in rumors that TLC will cancel Counting On rather than weather the storm of another Duggar scandal.

The most damaging that controversy sparked in recent weeks arose as a result of some appalling comments that Derick directed at Jazz Jennings, a fellow TLC reality star and transgender teen.

“What an oxymoron… a ‘reality’ show which follows a non-reality. ‘Transgender’ is a myth. Gender is not fluid; it’s ordained by God,” Derick tweeted in an angry response to TLC’s promotions for I Am Jazz.

In response to outraged fans demanding that Derick apologize to the 16-year-old girl, Derick replied, “I have nothing against him,” adding that “gender is ordained by God,” and cannot be changed by man.

The Duggars have yet to put that ugly episode behind them, and there are those who believe Derick’s actions will cost the family their reality show.

But far from taking a time out from social media, Derick seems to be tweeting more than ever these days.

And he’s become no less combative as a result of his latest PR crisis.

Taking advantage of Monday’s solar eclipse, Derick posted a seemingly innocuous tweet about his religious beliefs:

“On a day when so many will be looking to the sun, let’s not miss the Son. #SolarEclipse2017 #EclipseSolar #JesusChrist,” he wrote.

“The difference being that #SolarEclipse2017 is actually verifiable & #JesusChrist is not,” a fan tweeted in response.

“Do we need to have a history lesson on the FACT that Jesus of Nazareth was a historical figure?” an irate Dillard fired back.

Derick retweeted the non-believer’s response, and right on cue, dozens of his 123,000 followers pounced.

Obviously, there’s nothing surprising about Derick’s religious views, as he’s been quite open about his beliefs throughout his time in the spotlight.

But his decision to go nuclear in response to a rather civilly-worded dissenting view speaks volumes. 

It’s interesting that Derick replied at all, as he chose not to respond to the many high profile figures who called him out following his tweets about Jazz Jennings.

Like the rest of the Duggar clan, Derick usually doesn’t bother arguing with fans online.

The reaction seems unnecessarily hostile (an ironic attitude to assume in a debate about Jesus), and given the recent events of his public life, we can’t help but think the pressure’s beginning to get to Derick. 

Watch Counting On online for more from reality TV’s most controversial family.

View Slideshow: Jill Duggar and Derick Dillard Photos

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Jill Duggar & Derick Dillard: Breaking Away From Her Family"s Beliefs?!

First Jinger, now Jill.

One by one, it seems Jim Bob Duggar is losing control of his daughters to their more liberal-minded husbands.

And not surprisingly, the ultra-conservative father of 19 is less than pleased about it.

Jill Duggar and Derick Dillard recently returned to Arkansas after spending the better part of the last year performing missionary work in Central America.

Jill welcomed her second child last month, and shortly thereafter, the family announced that they would not be returning to El Salvador to engage in humanitarian efforts.

(No official word on whether or not the decision was a result of uproar over the fact that Jill and Derick were never licensed missionaries.)

But that doesn’t mean Jill and Derick won’t be seeking out ways to help those who are less fortunate.

Yesterday, the Cross Church Springdale campus announced new inductees into its year-long ministry school program.

Eagle-eyed fans noticed that one of the photos on the group’s Facebook page featured Jill and Derick.

“Yesterday announced our newest members to the School of Ministry!” the group wrote on its Facebook page.

“We are so excited for this group. As a church family, we will be praying for this group as they grow and learn!”

The church describes the program Jill and Derick are enrolled in as a “one-year residential program” focusing on “Gospel advancement.”

Yes, Jill and Derick will spend much of the year living amongst their fellow domestic missionaries, worshipping and studying the Bible separately from the church’s main congregation.

It may sound a little cult-ish, but based on the group’s Facebook page, it seems Jill and Derick will actually be practicing a less-strict, more mainstream form of their religion.

“Are all of the people in this school sharing the same ‘beliefs’ as the Duggars/Dillards? I see some knees showing,” commented one FB follower, referring to the Duggars’ controversial belief that women should have their legs completely covered at all times.

“It will be good for Derek and Jill to be with people with a different brand of Christianity than the Duggars. See hems above the knee and it hasn’t become a frenzied den of evil,” commented another.

But there’s more going on here than just short (by Duggar standards) skirts.

The group takes a less fundamentalist view of Christianity than the one Jill was raised with, and many fans are wondering how Jim Bob feels about her decision to become involved with the School of Ministry.

Sure, it’s not as extreme as Jinger Duggar wearing pants, but to Jim Bob the move may represent yet another lost battle in his war to maintain control of his family.

As we reported earlier, sources close to the family say Jim Bob has been clashing with his sons-in-law over matters of religious doctrine.

And it seems he’s gradually losing his daughters to more liberal belief systems.

Unfortunately, according to his own creed, married women are under the control of their husbands, not their fathers.

So it looks like for the time being at least, JB is powerless to do anything about his daughters’ views on legwear.

Watch Counting On online for more from reality TV’s most controversial family.

View Slideshow: Jill Duggar and Derick Dillard Photos

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Joy-Anna Duggar: Under Fire For Political Beliefs?

If you follow the many members of the Duggar family on social media, then you’re probably aware that they’re not shy about sharing their political and religious beliefs, controversial as they may be.

It seems not a week goes by without an uproar over something one of the grown Duggar children said online.

The most recent furor came as a result of Derick Dillard’s comments about Jazz Jennings.

The husband of Jill Duggar slammed his fellow TLC star, a transgender teen, tweeting that “transgender is a myth” and criticizing his own network for airing a “reality show that follows a non-reality.”

This week, it’s Joy-Anna Duggar’s turn in the spotlight, as fans of the newly-married 19 year old have had mixed reactions about Joy swearing her allegiance to the Republican Party in the midst of one of the most divisive political climates in recent memory.

Joy and husband Austin Forsyth recently attended the Arkansas Young Republican State Convention in Little Rock.

The couple posted a photo from the event on their joint Instagram page.

“Great turnout today at the Arkansas State Capital for the Arkansas Young Republican State Convention!” Joy-Anna commented on the pic below.

Some fans praised the couple for having the courage to stand up for their beliefs in contentious times.

Others, of course, argued that the current occupant of the White House is pursuing an agenda that flies in the face of beliefs espoused by Joy-Anna, Austin, and all Christians.

“Not everyone who is republican is racist,” wrote one commenter, adding that she applauds Joy and Austin for “spread[ing] the truth to young people.”

“This is a sensitive subject, especially in these tough days in our country,” wrote a more critical follower.

“Your families would obviously be Republican (I mean who would think otherwise). I would just be careful because these post will cause and stir emotions with people. I was going to write something else, but realize you both are young and not exposed to much.”

The comment highlights that no one is surprised Joy and Austin are Republicans.

After all, Joy’s father, Jim Bob Duggar, ran for the U.S. Senate as a Republican and her family has long favored a conservative ideology.

Interestingly, Joy-Anna and Austin have yet to comment on the situation.

It seems the couple feels they made their statement with their decision to attend at the convention.

But despite Joy’s silence, you can be sure that the debate amongst her Instagram followers will continue to rage.

Watch Counting On online for more from reality TV’s most controversial family.

View Slideshow: Joy-Anna Duggar Wedding Photos: Check Out Mrs. Forsyth’s Big Day!

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Jim Bob Duggar: Clashing With Ben Seewald, Jeremy Vuolo Over Religious Beliefs (Exclusive)

Jim Bob Duggar is almost as well known for his ultra-conservative religious views as he is for the massive brood of children he’s raised with wife Michelle.

Jim Bob’s views on issues such as birth control, women’s rights and homosexuality have earned him scorn from critics, and accounts   from insiders indicate that the Duggar children – daughters in particular – face harsh consequences for defying their father’s code of ethics.

But once Duggar women leave the nest (which occurs only after marriage), it’s their husbands who determine everything from how they dress to how they worship.

And it seems Jim Bob now wishes he’d been more selective when in helping his daughters select mates.

As we’ve reported previously, Jim Bob has butted heads with his sons-in-law over a wide variety of issues.

Jinger Duggar’s decision to begin wearing pants after marrying Jeremy Vuolo (Under Jim Bob’s rules, Duggar women are only permitted to wear florr-length skirts.) may have attracted the most attention, but it’s the more arcane doctrinal disputes that are creating the deepest divisions.

A source who formerly held close ties to several members of the Duggar family tells The Hollywood Gossip exclusively that Jim Bob is deeply upset by many of the views held by both Vuolo and Jessa Duggar’s husband, Ben Seewald.

As a result of the patriarchal structure of their home lives, these views are now being espoused by Jinger and Jessa, and our source says Jim Bob is extremely troubled by his daughter’s new beliefs.

“He’s allowed a division in the family to occur,” our source says of Jim Bob. “He knows it’s not a true doctrine.”

It seems the major point of contention is Vuolo and Seewald’s adherence to the doctrine of Calvinism, which holds that only a pre-determined “elect” is eligible for salvation.

Jim Bob’s life is centered around the conviction that salvation is available to all through the grace of God, so it’s not hard to see why he takes issue with Vuolo and Seewald’s belief in pre-destination.

Apparently, Vuolo’s rebellion against Jim Bob’s belief system did not come as a surprise, as the Texas-based minister has long preached Calvinism to his congregation.

Many now believe that Vuolo’s beliefs played a role in Jim Bob’s hesitancy to approve of Jinger and Jeremy getting engaged.

In fact, it seems Jim Bob may have only given his consent after realizing that he was no match for Jinger’s stubborn streak.

Seewald, on the other hand, was not expected to offer much resistance to Jim Bob’s views, in part due to his submissive nature and the fact that he’s beholden to the Duggars financially.

“Very quiet, reserved, but he’s a Calvinist,” says our source, adding that Jessa makes most of the major decisions in the Seewald household.

“His wife is the boss. She holds the key to everything – money, you name it.”

Seewald’s more liberal beliefs have caused him to run afoul of Jim Bob in the past, but it seems it’s only since Vuolo joined the family that Ben’s been vocal about his Calvinist views.

As a result of Ben gaining an ally, it seems the Duggars are in the midst of a power struggle worthy of Game of Thrones.

“The things you see when the cameras aren’t rolling aren’t necessarily so when the cameras are off,” our source says of the deep ideological divisions that threaten to tear the family apart.

The insider believes that Jim Bob will ultimately be triumphant in his struggle against his sons-in-law, noting that the former politician is such a force to be reckoned with in his hometown of Tontitown, Arkansas that locals have taken to calling the area “Duggarville.”

“You really have to be around these people to understand how cultish they really are,” our source says. “Everything is controlled by Jim Bob, all the money in that place is controlled by Jim Bob.”

“Jim Bob does what Jim Bob wants to do,” he adds. “Sometimes, people who have a little bit of clout just do whatever they want.”

View Slideshow: Duggar Family Photos: Then & Now!

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Justin Bieber Cancels Tour Because of Religious Beliefs, Screws Over Crew Members

If you’re a true Belieber, then by now, you’ve no doubt heard the disheartening news.

Justin Bieber has canceled the remaining dates on his “Purpose” tour, leaving tens of thousands of fans gravely disappointed.

Reps for the Biebs claim he was simply too tired to carry on, and that excuse shouldn’t come as much of a surprise.

Bieber has cited exhaustion for canceling numerous events in the past, usually letting a whole lot of fans down in the process.

Many on social media have been quite vocal in their curiosity over just what the hell is making a seemingly healthy 23-year-old so damn tired all the time.

But now, it looks as though JB called off the tour not for reasons having to do with his body … but rather due to a crisis of the soul, girl.

Yes, TMZ is reporting that Justin has found Jesus, and Jesus … doesn’t like arena shows?

We’re not really sure, but sources close to Justin say his involvement with the Hillsong Church led the singer to decision that he should cancel the remaining 14 stops on his tour.

It’s important to note that those same sources insist Hillsong leader Carl Lentz did not encourage Justin to cancel the dates.

Unfortunately, it seems Bieber is getting his signals crossed, as canceling the tour is probably no what J.C. would’ve done.

You see, it’s not just the fans Bieber is letting down, but his dozens of crew members who now find themselves unexpectedly out of a job.

TMZ says the crew is “incredibly pissed off at him,” as many were living paycheck-to-paycheck and now have to worry about their immediate financial futures.

According to the site, anonymous crew members are scoffing at the idea that this is part of some spiritual awakening for Justin.

Instead, that say it’s just more of the bratty behavior that he’s been known for for years.

Bieber has yet to speak out on the matter directly.

He’s probably too tired.

Or he’s in church.

Whatever his excuse for being lame is these days, that’s what’s going on.

View Slideshow: Justin Bieber Fans Offer #PrayersForBieber in Wake of Tour Cancelation

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Jim Bob Duggar: Clashing With Ben Seewald Over Religious Beliefs?

If you know anything about Jim Bob Duggar aside from the fact that he’s very big on procreation, then you know that the father of 19 is deeply religious.

In fact, aside from the staggering size of his brood, it seems to be Jim Bob’s strict fundamentalist beliefs that attracted television producers and audiences to his unique story.

But it often seems that for every one fan who’s drawn to Jim Bob’s piety, there are 100 who are disgusted by his cultish views or who revel in pointing out his hypocrisy.

From an outsiders persective, it seems that Jim Bob rules over his household with an iron fist.

And indeed, the Duggars enforce a patriarchal system that gives Jim Bob a disturbing amount of autonomy over the lives of his wife and daughters.

But he exercises no such control over his adult sons or his daughters’ husbands, and it seems that even within the extended Duggar clan, Jim Bob’s uncompromising belief system has proven to be a source of strife and conflict.

We already knew about some of the more obvious ways in which Jim Bob’s beliefs differ from those of the men who have married into his family.

The most commonly cited example is likely the fact that Jinger Duggar is permitted to wear pants now, as her husband, Jeremy Vuolo, doesn’t share Jim Bob’s belief that women should only wear skirts.

Yes, once the Duggar girls marry, their husbands assume control of their lives, which may be why Jim Bob is taking some seemingly minor religious differences with his sons-in-law so seriously.

A source tells the The Hollywood Gossip exclusively that Jim Bob has openly disagreed with Jessa Duggar’s husband, Ben Seewald, on a number of different issues, particularly Ben’s belief in the doctrine of Calvinism.

Seewald and his family are adherents to the teachings of an Arkansas pastor named Kevin Smead, one of the nation’s formeost propnents of Southern Baptist Calvinism.

One of the more controversial teachings of Calvinism is that of predestination, or the belief that one’s salvation and path through life are pre-determined.

Ben has openly split with Jim Bob on a number of issues, such as when he publicly supported the Black Lives Matter movement, but it’s reportedly his beliefs in Calvinism and predestination that are of particular concern to Jim Bob.

Our source, a former employee of the Duggars, accuses Jim Bob of being unfaithful to his beliefs and accepting Ben’s influence over his daughter as a means of maintaining the illusion of wholesomeness and family unity that’s so essential to the Duggar brand.

“They chase they almighty dollar instead of their doctrine,” says the insider.

“When the cameras aren’t rolling, it’s a whole different life,” he adds. “It’s all about money. It’s crazy.”

The source adds that he believes fans would be shocked to see “such a division, doctrine-wise” within the Duggar family and the rift that it’s caused between generations.

Watch Counting On online to see the illusory world that the Duggars present to their legion of devoted fans.

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