Amy Duggar King has issued pointed criticism of the conservative religious culture that shaped the Duggar family, appearing to address how family members respond to serious allegations against their relatives. The comments come in the wake of her cousin Joseph Duggar's arrest on child molestation charges in March.
In a TikTok video posted on Thursday, April 2, King, 39, did not mention Kendra Duggar, 27, by name but appeared to reference Joseph Duggar's wife and her continued support of her husband following his arrest. King questioned how a spouse could fail to express anger or distress in such circumstances.
"How in the hell can she not be so unbelievably distraught and mad and disgusted at him," King stated in the video. "Oh, just wait, I'll tell you why, because women in these really toxic systems, like this one, are taught that anger is a sin."
King proceeded to critique what she described as harmful teachings within the conservative religious environment in which the Duggar family was raised. She characterized the culture as one that suppresses women's emotional responses and discourages independent thought.
"Anger is wrong and you cannot express it, you have to just keep it inside. Stay sweet, keep the peace and don't create waves," King explained. "Oh, and the biggest one that just drives me crazy is you have to forgive quickly, very, very quickly. Because heaven forbid, you take time to process what in the world has just happened, that your entire foundation of what you've built your life on with your children has now been completely disrupted and it'll never look the same again."
King further elaborated on what she perceives as problematic dynamics within such religious communities, stating that women are not afforded the opportunity to process traumatic events or think independently. She suggested that instead of expressing legitimate anger, women in these environments are expected to maintain a pleasant demeanor regardless of circumstances.
The concept of grace, frequently invoked within the Duggar family's religious framework, also drew King's criticism. "My favorite term that they always use is 'grace.' 'We show them grace. We show the men grace because sins happen and grace covers it,'" King said. "Grace does offer repentance. Grace is something that is wonderful. Not in this instance. This isn't grace, this is suppression. And this is how the cycle continues."
King predicted that rather than processing trauma, Kendra Duggar would likely "defend him, she will smile sweetly, she will talk very kindly to him and she will downplay the situation at hand." She emphasized that anger serves a necessary function when individuals experience betrayal or harm.
"The healthy response to being hurt and to being betrayed and being, like, completely like, broken-hearted is anger. Anger is a part of it all. Not in this culture," King stated. "It fires me up because instead what you're going to see is the most perfect, sweet little angel of a wife who's right beside him through thick and thin and who does that remind you of? The fact that she is not angry at all should deeply concern you."
Joseph Duggar, 31, was arrested in Arkansas on March 19 and charged with lewd and lascivious behavior involving molestation of a victim less than 12 years old and lewd and lascivious behavior conducted by a person 18 years or older. The charges stem from allegations made by a 14-year-old girl who accused Joseph Duggar of molesting her when she was 9 years old during a 2020 vacation to Panama City Beach, Florida.
Joseph Duggar was extradited to Florida earlier this week, where he entered a plea of not guilty. He was subsequently released after posting bail in the amount of $600,000.
In separate legal matters unrelated to the molestation allegations, both Joseph and Kendra Duggar face charges including four counts of endangering the welfare of a minor and four counts of false imprisonment.
The Duggar family has not issued a public statement in response to King's comments.
Resources are available for those affected by sexual assault through the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673). Individuals experiencing or aware of child abuse can contact the Childhelp Hotline at 1-800-422-4453.