Where Are Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar Following Joseph Duggar’s Arrest?

Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar have weathered more than one sex abuse scandal. How they choose to handle it as a couple seems to differ each time, though. Their response to Joseph Duggar’s recent arrest has differed significantly from how they dealt with Josh Duggar’s molestation scandal and, later, his child pornography charges. So, where exactly are Jim Bob and Michelle right now?

Josh Duggar’s molestation scandal was met head-on

In 2015, when In Touch Weekly released police reports accusing Josh Duggar of molesting several of his sisters, Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar began a media campaign to try to explain away the situation. The couple insisted that they “dealt” with the problem, addressed Josh’s behavior, and ensured their daughters’ safety, though critics and followers did not agree.

They also pushed their daughters to discuss the incident in an uncomfortable interview, which Jill Dillard later recounted in her book Counting the Cost. Anna Duggar also agreed to sit for an interview to address not only that scandal, but also Josh’s infidelity. The couple was in full-blown crisis mode and clearly wished to save their family’s show. They accomplished that. While TLC canceled 19 Kids and Counting, they offered the family a “spinoff” series. Derick Dillard later said the series was not so much a spinoff as a rebranding.

How did Jim Bob Duggar and Michelle Duggar respond to Josh Duggar’s arrest?

Joseph Duggar’s arrest on child molestation charges is not the first time Jim Bob and Michelle have found one of their children in trouble with the law. In 2021, Josh Duggar, the couple’s eldest son, was arrested for receiving and possessing child pornography. Shortly after his arrest, the couple released a statement and remained somewhat public-facing, posting regularly on Instagram. They were less vocal during his arrest than they were during his molestation scandal, though. Critics argue they likely knew their run as reality TV stars was over, regardless of the case’s outcome.  

Jim Bob Duggar was heavily involved in Josh’s legal process, including appearing in court during each hearing. He was spotted at the courthouse during the convicted felon’s trial, never missing a day. Michelle Duggar, on the other hand, remained completely out of the spotlight. She was not seen at the courthouse or around town. In December 2021, they released a joint statement on their family blog about Josh’s conviction. While Michelle has celebrated her children’s milestones since then, she doesn’t speak about Josh’s conviction.

Things are different with Joseph’s arrest, though

While Jim Bob Duggar took a more public-facing approach during Josh Duggar’s arrest and trial, he’s been a lot more elusive since his younger son’s arrest. In fact, Jim Bob has not yet been spotted in public since news of Joseph’s arrest broke. He has not appeared at the jail. In fact, it’s unclear if he is even in Arkansas at this time. That might change once court dates come into play, though.

Michelle Duggar seems to be more actively involved, a distinct change from her last family scandal. While she hasn’t made a public statement, she has, at the very least, ventured out to deal with some family business. The Daily Mail published photos showing the family matriarch picking up Kendra Caldwell from an area jail. It is presumed that she is the Duggar family member who posted Kendra’s bail.

The couple has not issued a public statement on social media or on their family blog about the arrests. That’s not unexpected, though. While several of the ultra-conservative Christian couple’s children use social media to earn a living, they have mostly abandoned the spotlight since Josh’s arrest and conviction. The duo has not updated their family Instagram since 2022. Their family blog has been mostly abandoned since 2024, shortly before Jana Duggar married Stephen Wissmann and moved to Nebraska. A public statement on Joseph’s arrest, even if he is convicted, likelyn is not forthcoming. After all, they are not making money from