TLC Pulls "19 Kids & Counting" from its Programming Rotation

TLC has been pretty tone-deaf when it comes to dealing with revelations that Josh Duggar of "19 Kids & Counting" molested five underage girls (including more than one of his sisters) and that his parents opted to turn to their church elders instead of the authorities when they first found out about this. Duggar finally stepped down from his leadership position within the Family Research Council last night, but TLC continued to air reruns of "19 Kids & Counting" all evening.


TLC finally directly addressed this controversy by pulling "19 Kids & Counting" from its rotation of programs:

TLC has pulled 19 Kids and Counting from its schedule in the wake of star Josh Duggar's admission that he molested several underage girls 12 years ago, including his sisters.

“Effective immediately, TLC has pulled all episodes of 19 Kids and Counting currently from the air. We are deeply saddened and troubled by this heartbreaking situation, and our thoughts and prayers are with the family and victims at this difficult time,” the network said in a statement late Friday.

TLC had refused to comment on the incident Thursday, but the network sparked outrage later that evening when it ran a 19 Kids and Counting marathon. As of early Friday, the show had been scheduled to air on the morning of May 27, but it has since been taken off the schedule.

It doesn't appear that the program has actually been canceled, though that may come eventually.