Former reality TV star Josh Duggar acknowledged Thursday that he had an addiction to pornography and had been “unfaithful” to his wife, in a statement responding to recent reports about the family values activist’s behavior.
“I have been the biggest hypocrite ever,” Duggar, who was featured in the now-cancelled show 19 Kids and Counting, said in the statement posted on the Duggar family website.
“While espousing faith and family values, I have secretly over the last several years been viewing pornography on the internet and this became a secret addiction and I became unfaithful to my wife,” Duggar added. His statement was later changed online to omit any mention of pornography.
This admission comes amid reports that Duggar, the former executive director for the conservative lobbying group Family Research Council, had a paid account on the adultery website Ashley Madison. And it comes just months after revelations that he molested underage girls when he was a teenager, including two of his younger sisters. Those revelations led to the eventual cancellation of the TLC reality show about the large family.
Duggar did not make any specific mention of reports that he had an Ashley Madison account in his statement, allegations that sprung from a massive hack of the website.
“I brought hurt and a reproach to my family, close friends and the fans of our show with my actions that happened when I was 14-15 years old, and now I have re-broken their trust,” he said.
Read the full statement from the Duggar family below.
Statement from Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar:
Please see the statement below from our son Josh regarding recent media stories about him. When we learned of this late last night our hearts were broken. As we continue to place our trust in God we ask for your prayers for Josh, Anna, our grandchildren and our entire family.
Statement from Josh Duggar:
I have been the biggest hypocrite ever. While espousing faith and family values, I have secretly over the last several years been viewing pornography on the internet and this became a secret addiction and I became unfaithful to my wife.
I am so ashamed of the double life that I have been living and am grieved for the hurt, pain and disgrace my sin has caused my wife and family, and most of all Jesus and all those who profess faith in Him.
I brought hurt and a reproach to my family, close friends and the fans of our show with my actions that happened when I was 14-15 years old, and now I have re-broken their trust.
The last few years, while publicly stating I was fighting against immorality in our country, I was hiding my own personal failings.
As I am learning the hard way, we have the freedom to choose to our actions, but we do not get to choose our consequences. I deeply regret all hurt I have caused so many by being such a bad example.
I humbly ask for your forgiveness. Please pray for my precious wife Anna and our family during this time.
Josh Duggar
Read next: TLC’s Child-Abuse Documentary Should Not Include the Duggars
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