“After thoughtful consideration, TLC and the Duggar family have decided to not move forward with ’19 Kids and Counting,'” TLC said Thursday in a statement. “The show will no longer appear on the air.”
The decision has been pending since May, when the cable network pulled the series from airing.
That’s when reports began to surface that oldest brother Josh Duggar, now 27, had molested five children, including four of his sisters, about 12 years ago. The parents decided to keep the incidents private instead of alerting authorities when they first learned of the abuse.
According to the rep, there is no new news on reported spin-offs of the series. TLC, however, is working with advocacy and victims’-rights organizations, including Rainn and Darkness to Light, in the production of a documentary as part of a larger campaign.
According to TLC’s statement:
In the first phase of this initiative, TLC will work closely with both groups and with the Duggar family on a one-hour documentary that will include Jill and Jessa and other survivors and families that have been affected by abuse.
The documentary is scheduled to air without commercials later this summer.
For 10 seasons, “19 Kids and Counting” has documented the lives of the Duggar family, headed by Arkansas residents Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar and their constantly growing family.
Read the network’s full statement below:
After thoughtful consideration, TLC and the Duggar family have decided to not move forward with “19 Kids and Counting.” The show will no longer appear on the air.
The recent attention around the Duggars has sparked a critical and important conversation about child protection.
Over these past weeks, TLC has consulted regularly with leading victims’ rights and advocacy organizations in the U.S., including RAINN and Darkness to Light, to discuss how to use this moment to address the issue and make a positive impact. Unfortunately, child sexual abuse is not an isolated issue; it affects many children and families around the world. To that end, we are partnering with both organizations on a multi-platform campaign to raise awareness and educate parents and families about the issue. In the first phase of this initiative, TLC will work closely with both groups and with the Duggar family on a one-hour documentary that will include Jill and Jessa and other survivors and families that have been affected by abuse.
TLC has been especially concerned for the victims in this situation, including the Duggar family, and it is our hope that this effort will help those in need learn where to turn for information and help. The documentary will be commercial free, and we anticipate it will air later this summer.
This article was originally published on Business Insider. Copyright 2015.
