Shocking Revelations: Jana Duggar's Secret Life Under Jim Bob and Michelle's Control

News Licensing / MEGA ; Courtesy of Jana Duggar/Instagram

Amy Duggar fearlessly expresses her opinions regarding her aunt Michelle and uncle Jim Bob Duggar, and now she is shedding light on her bond with cousin Jana Duggar.

Amy, 36, shared in a recent Vanity Fair interview that she hopes that her sister, Jana, 33, is happy and thriving. However, Amy has no communication with her sister because Jana still resides on their parents' property in Arkansas. Amy also mentioned that individuals who live with their parents in the IBLP, the fundamentalist Christian movement their parents are a part of, are under their control. Therefore, Amy is unsure if Jana is even allowed to reach out to her.

Jana, the firstborn child of Jim Bob and Michelle, gained fame through the TLC series 19 Kids and Counting. Unfortunately, the family's spinoff show, Counting On, was canceled due to the legal troubles of their oldest son Josh. In early 2021, Josh, who is now 35 years old, was arrested on charges related to child pornography. Following a trial in December of the same year, he was found guilty of two counts of receiving and possessing child pornography, resulting in a prison sentence of over 12 years.

Courtesy of Jana Duggar/Instagram

Amy and some of her relatives have recently renounced their upbringing, as seen in Prime Video’s Shiny Happy People. While Jana did not take part, Amy and cousin Jill Duggar voiced their criticism of IBLP in the docuseries. Additionally, Jinger Duggar shared her personal journey in her memoir titled Becoming Free Indeed: My Story of Disentangling Faith From Fear, where she revealed the negative impact of fear, manipulation, control, and superstition on her upbringing. Speaking exclusively to We prior to the release of her book, Jinger, 29, expressed the difficulty of breaking free from these teachings once exposed to them.

Amy, on her part, declared that the way the family treated Josh after his arrest was the final straw for her. "I cannot fathom protecting a predator," she expressed to Vanity Fair. "I believe that is the utmost of despicableness, with no possibility of redemption."

Following the release of Shiny Happy People, Jim Bob and Michelle strongly criticized the series, describing it as "unfortunate" in a statement posted on their website. "Similar to other families, ours has also encountered the highs and lows of life, albeit in a highly publicized manner," the couple wrote earlier this month. "This 'documentary' presents numerous individuals and circumstances in a demeaning and sensationalized manner, which unfortunately aligns with the current course of entertainment."

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They expressed, "Our firm belief has been that the most effective means to mend broken relationships or resolve conflicts is through the power of love within a personal and intimate environment. We hold deep affection for every member of our family and will persistently strive towards cultivating harmonious bonds with each one."

Amy, on the other hand, displayed her dissatisfaction with their response. In a TikTok video posted days later, she vehemently criticized Jim Bob for allegedly shielding Josh after he was accused in 2015 of engaging in sexual misconduct with multiple underage girls during his adolescence. His sisters Jill and Jessa were subsequently revealed as two of the victims involved.

Amy expressed her disdain for individuals who fail to protect their daughters from an internal predator, choosing instead to conceal and disregard the issue. She stated that she no longer respects such individuals and does not want them to have any involvement with her child, as she is dedicated to safeguarding her own child at any cost.

Years after the scandal in 2015, Jim Bob claimed to have no recollection of the specifics regarding Josh's alleged confession about his misconduct with the victims. In November 2021, while testifying in support of Josh during his child pornography trial, Jim Bob expressed gratitude that Josh had willingly admitted to his actions.