Jill Duggar Dillard’s courtship, wedding, and early years of marriage to Derick Dillard became fodder for the spinoff show “Counting On.” However, in 2017, the Dillards left the series, feeling that their lives were being micromanaged. “Our control to choose what jobs we were allowed to accept and even where we were allowed to live was taken away from us,” Jill said in an interview with People. She added, “We knew we had to pull out completely to reevaluate and get our bearings.”
Jill was free to show the world her authentic self. She wore pants, got a nose piercing, and indulged in the occasional drink. Her sons, Israel and Samuel, attend public school. Perhaps most shocking to fans, she and Derick openly admitted to using birth control. “Children are a blessing, but that doesn’t mean that at all costs, you should have as many kids as possible,” she declared in another People sit-down. It seemed clear through her actions that her relationship with her parents was strained.
In 2021, her oldest brother, Josh, went to trial and was convicted on charges of possessing child sexual abuse material. This followed the shocking revelation years earlier that Josh had molested Jill and three of her sisters as children (per USA Today). Jill attended the trial and was listed as a witness, but wasn’t called, according to The U.S. Sun. Still, her willingness to stand up for justice may be her most courageous move to date.
If you or anyone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, help is available. Visit the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network website or contact RAINN’s National Helpline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).
