Duggar clan may lose reality TV show after eldest son admits he molested his younger sisters
Celebrity Christian family scrutinised after son admits he molested sisters
In the realm of US reality television, the Duggars have stood out as the champions of old-school Christian values - until now.
The future of their TLC cable series 19 Kids and Counting is in question after the clan's oldest son Josh Duggar confirmed reports that, as a teenager, he had molested several young girls, including his sisters.
Online petitions and bloggers are calling for the show to be cancelled, after TLC announced on Friday that it had ceased reruns of past series.
The show has been telecast since September 2008 and, judging from the Duggars' various social media accounts, new episodes were in production last week when Josh Duggar's past caught up with him.
"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," said TLC in a statement.
Duggar, 28, abruptly quit his Washington job as a lobbyist for the Family Research Council, which campaigns against abortion and same-sex marriage.
Online, he acknowledged molesting five female teens - including some of his nine sisters - albeit long before 19 Kids and Counting came into being.