Amy Duggar is urging her online followers – and Jill Duggar’s husband Derick Dillard – to extend love and compassion instead of hate.
What a novel concept, we know. Jarring.
The Marriage Boot Camp: Reality Stars cast member and niece of Jim Bob Duggar took to Twitter to share an uplifting message:
“You might not agree with someone or their lifestyle but you SHOULD be compassionate and show God’s love regardless to everyone.”
There’s no doubt what sparked this.
Amy’s tweet comes a week after Derick Dillard was fired by TLC following a second, unprompted attack on fellow network star Jazz Jennings.
Derick, the husband of Amy’s cousin Jill, has some serious problems with 17-year-old Jazz, the transgender star of I Am Jazz on TLC.
Dillard got into it with Twitter user @_mastercthulhu, saying, “I pity Jazz 4 those who take advantage of him in order 2 promote their agenda.”
That includes “the parents who allow these kinds of decisions 2 be made by a child … It’s sad that ppl would use a juvenile this way.”
“Jazz is being taken advantage of, as part of a larger agenda. I really have nothing against the kid and wish him all the best in life,” he adds.
“I just hate seeing him used this way.”
Note the inaccurate pronouns as part of Dillard’s attack on Jazz Jennings, which came out of nowhere and wasn’t even the first of its kind.
Derick’s outspoken and controversial quotes along these lines had already been causing friction between the Duggars and the network.
That tension has now boiled over.
After Amy’s message, Der’s Twitter adversary @_mastercthulhu applauded her for being respectful to others, responding:
“This is what I was trying to say to Derick. It’s okay that you don’t agree with the trans community, that’s your opinion and that’s fine.”
“But you can’t bully and be mean to others this is coming from an atheist! I’m glad you understand what it means to be a good Christian, Amy.”
“I have friends that are gay and I still love them as a person,” Amy replied to her new Twitter supporter. “Thank you for following.”
Following his initial criticism of I Am Jazz, a reality show which he called an “oxymoron” based on the transgender “myth,” Derick wrote:
“No one – women, men, children or transgender persons – should be subjected to any form of exploitation or targeted for discrimination.”
“Transsexual and transgendered persons are entitled to the same human and civil rights as others.”
“Recognizing these rights, however, does not mean that we must accept that hormones and surgery transform men into women and women into men.”
“Or,” he added, “that persons who self-identify as members of the opposite sex, are what they subjectively claim to be.”
“What an oxymoron. A ‘reality’ show which follows a non-reality. ‘Transgender’ is a myth. Gender is not fluid. It’s ordained by God.”
Obviously, this set off a firestorm.
Some of Dillard’s fans lauded these comments, but his network bosses were far from impressed. TLC released a statement:
“We want to let our viewers know that Derick Dillard has not participated in Counting On for months and 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,” the statement said in no uncertain terms.
It concluded, referencing his target: “TLC is proud to share the story of Jazz Jennings and her family and will continue to do so.”
A low-key firing, but pretty direct nonetheless; Jill may be fired from Counting On as well, apparently, based on these comments.
Jazz herself responded indirectly to the controversy, not naming Derick specifically but clearly referring to him when she wrote:
“In the face of constant ignorance and hatred I prefer to disregard negative opinions and continue moving forward with love.”
Sounds like a message Amy Duggar would embrace.
