"The family's oldest son, Josh, has been in prison since 2022 for possessing images of child sexual abuse. In 2015, he admitted to molesting five girls - including four of his own sisters - while he lived in that famous home."
"In both cases, abuse became entertainment with religion the set dressing. There would be no Mormon Wives without the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. No 19 Kids and Counting without Bill Gothard, who preached against birth control and resigned from ministry after women accused him of sexual harassment and assault."
"On Mormon Wives, misery saturated every scene and every outburst, and I recognized it, even though I grew up in a different church."
Recent events highlight the troubling intersection of reality television and abuse, particularly in the cases of Taylor Frankie Paul and the Duggar family. Joseph Duggar faces serious charges of child molestation, while his wife Kendra is charged with child abuse. The Duggar family's history is marred by past admissions of abuse, including that of their oldest son, Josh. Reality shows like 'Mormon Wives' and '19 Kids and Counting' showcase the darker sides of family dynamics, often under the guise of religious values, leading to skepticism about their portrayal of faith and family.
Read at Intelligencer
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