Jill Duggar and Derick Dillard's Hazy Recollection of Their Last Encounter with Her Parents

YouTube

Jill Duggar and her husband, Derick Dillard, were nearly left speechless when asked to name the “last time” they saw Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar.

The couple made an appearance on "The Unplanned Podcast" on Wednesday, January 10, with Abby and Matt Howard. During the episode, they discussed their experiences filming reality TV, Jill’s book "Counting the Cost" and more. Jill, 32, revealed that she hasn't had a sit-down conversation with her parents since her book was released in September 2023, but she has spoken to them.

Jill anticipated that Jim Bob, 58, and Michelle, 57, would probably want to "have a talk with a therapist" and "sort things out," but this approach hasn't worked in the past. "It's just not the best way to handle it," she added. "So we're still working on figuring things out."

The former reality star mentioned that she has only seen Michelle since Count the Cost hit shelves. When asked about the last time she and Dillard saw both Jim Bob and Michelle, the couple hesitated for a moment before finally answering.

YouTube

Dillard speculated that it had likely happened in July 2022 when their youngest son, Freddy, was born, but Jill wasn't entirely convinced. She questioned, "Was it really that? Or could it have been a wedding?" and added, "I can't recall."

After a short exchange, Jill concluded that they had been with Jim Bob and Michelle at a "birthday celebration or baby announcement" for one of her siblings. "It was some sort of family event," she clarified.

Jill clarified that the event took place before her book was released. Dillard added, "That was over a year ago."

Jill and Dillard, along with Freddy, share two sons, Israel, 8, and Samuel, 5. The couple originally appeared on TLC's 19 Kids and Counting before its cancellation in 2015. They later starred on a spinoff called Counting On, but Jill and her husband departed from the series in 2017. The show was eventually canceled in 2021 following Josh Duggar's arrest on child pornography charges. He was convicted and is currently serving more than 12 years in federal prison.

Jill has openly talked about distancing herself from her parents since leaving TLC. In an exclusive interview with We in 2021, she mentioned some "drama" with her extended family and how some were more supportive than others in her quest to regain control over her life. She elaborated on the tension in her latest book, explaining that her father, Jim Bob, was not open to the idea of his children and their partners getting paid for appearances on the family's show. Allegedly, Jim Bob offered his sons and sons-in-law $80,000 if they signed a contract extending their commitment to the Mad Family Inc. production company. Jim Bob and Michelle declined to comment on the specifics of Jill's book in a statement released in September 2023.

Deal of the Day

Skip the Salon With This Viral Lash Lift Kit — 49% Off If You’re Fast

View Deal

Jill's relationship with her parents may be strained, but she still maintains good relationships with some of her 18 siblings. She stated that emotionally, she has to consider what she is up for when it comes to seeing them. Afterward, she and her husband, Derick, debrief about the experience. While the dynamic is not the same as it used to be, she can still have a great time with some of her siblings or go out to lunch with them.

Jill acknowledged that everyone is on their own journey, and she sometimes feels sad about the state of her bonds with her siblings. She expressed a desire for things to be like they were before, but also does not want to return to a controlling environment.