We’re sure the Duggar family spent the past few weeks praying for a scandal-free new year, but so far, Jill Duggar and her husband Derick Dillard have done nothing but attract negative attention in 2016.
Earlier this week, a photo on Jill’s Instagram page prompted widespread fan speculation about Derick’s health, as her husband appeared extremely gaunt and just generally…different.
Just one day later, the Dillards found themselves at the heart of a social media controversy yet again when a photo of baby Israel led to accusations of negligent parenting.
Today, the couple awoke to find themselves involved in their third mini-scandal in as many days.
The good news is that Jill and Derick must have grown accustomed to weathering these storms by now.
The bad news is that the Dillards are now under fire for something that probably won’t be as easily forgotten as an un-baby-proofed electrical outlet.
As you may know, Jill and Derick are currently in Guatemala to perform missionary work.
No, they haven’t been accused of scamming fans out of donations and quietly returning to Arkansas again.
This time they’re actually sticking it out in Central America – but it seems they understand little and respect even less about the culture and the people of their temporary home.
The following is an excerpt from a press release issued by Seeker of Souls – the missionary organization that Jill and Derick are working with – that the Dillards have chosen to share online:
“It is SOS’s privilege to introduce Derick and Jill Dillard to the Latin mission. They will come alongside Alex Lara, our Director of Missions for Latin America, to assist, preach, and engage the new regions. We have prepared, trained and now appointed them.
“Both of them will help with strengthening and encouraging married couples, which is mostly neglected in the Latin world, and they have already led a group from the church to a new region to preach the gospel.”
As you might guess, it’s the part about the people of Latin America neglecting their marriages that’s resulted in public outrage.
The claim is not only bigoted, but completely unsupported by any factual evidence, as the divorce rate in Guatemala is less than one-tenth of what it is in the US.
Jill and Derick have yet to respond to the controversy (or explain why in the hell they decided to share this damning mission statement online), but we’re sure their PR folks are cooking up something asinine as we speak.
