Jinger Duggar has tried to balance her preexisting work obligations while her family grapples with brother Joseph Duggar’s arrest scandal.
“Work commitments still exist, and I’m doing my best to honor those,” Jinger, 32, wrote via her Instagram Stories on Friday, March 27, noting that she is posting pre-scheduled footage via social media as part of her ongoing influencer brand deals. “Thank you for your kindness, understanding and prayers during this time.”
Jinger subsequently uploaded a video from her paid partnership with protein brand FlavCity.
Jinger’s younger brother Joseph, 31, was arrested in Arkansas on March 18 for unlawful sexual activity with a minor after allegedly molesting a 9-year-old child in 2020. The victim, now 14, claimed that Joseph “eventually apologized for his actions” at the time before the incidents stopped. A police report also claimed that Joseph confessed to the minor’s father as well as local detectives.
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News broke two days later that Joseph, who is currently awaiting extradition to Florida, is facing four additional counts of endangering the welfare of a minor, second degree, and four counts of second degree false imprisonment. Joseph’s wife, Kendra Duggar, was also arrested for the same charges and released on bond that same day. (Joseph and Kendra, 27, have been married since 2017 and share four children.)
Jinger is among Joseph’s siblings and cousins who have spoken out, condemning his alleged actions.
“I mean, it has been such a long week,” Jinger said on the Wednesday, March 25, episode of her and husband Jeremy Vuolo’s podcast. “It’s been one of those weeks that feels like years. And I did not think my heart could break like it has this week. The pain and heartbreak that we’ve had over this and just thinking of how it’s affected so many, yeah, it’s just unthinkable. So hard and painful on many levels.”
Vuolo, 38, added that he and Jinger were “taking a bit of space this week” to process the incident.
“Thinking about the victim who was brave enough to share her story has been heartbreaking,” Vuolo said. “Just the effect on that young person’s life is unimaginable. And then to see the ripple effect of that horrific crime across the board … I think that’s been for me, the forefront of my mind is just thinking [about] the horror of a crime like that affecting so many for so many years. It’s devastating to think about.”
Vuolo and Jinger further offered their prayers to the alleged victim and “for all of those affected.”
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“I don’t even have words,” Jinger added. “You can’t be prepared for news like this. Even though we’ve experienced something very similar before with one of my other siblings who made unthinkable choices and decisions that have affected all of us. And yet, the pain and hurt that’s caused to us … it’s hard to know what to do sometimes, moving forward. You just feel the weight of it.”
Jinger’s older brother Josh Duggar, who was previously accused of molesting several minors as a teenager, was arrested in 2021 for receiving and possessing child pornography. While Josh has maintained his innocence, he was found guilty on two counts and sentenced to 12 years in jail.
If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673). If you or someone you know is experiencing child abuse, call or text Child Help Hotline at 1-800-422-4453.