Summary
The series has been under scrutiny for numerous claims presented that cannot be verified and many which have been proven to be false. It claims to explore the supposed dark secrets of the Duggar family, best known for the TLC reality series 19 Kids and Counting . It presents Josh Duggar's conviction for knowingly receiving and possessing child pornography, but also presents false stories as true, such as a slanderous allegation and court case filed by Ashley Stan-Northup, also known as Danika Dillon, a porn star who falsely claimed she was sexually abused by Josh Duggar. [1] The series doesn't mention that court documents show that Danika was lying, had never even met Josh and fabricated the entire story. [2]
The series also presents the Duggar's family ties to the Institute in Basic Life Principles (IBLP) and its controversial leader Bill Gothard, showing how the organization has influenced the Duggars. [3] [4] [5] The influence of Christian youth organizations, including Generation Joshua, is also discussed in the documentary. [6] The series falsely claims that the ALERT academy [7] is not a search and rescue organization, but instead a paramilitary militia whose goal is to take over the world by force.
The documentary series leaves out important facts such as the information about a lawsuit cited by SHP producers as valid that was filed against Bill Gothard and IBLP which alleged that he molested several women, yet the series doesn't mention that every claim in the lawsuit was based on repressed memories [8] [9] , and the program also falsely claims the lawsuit was dropped due to the statute of limitations. [10] [9]
Some other examples of the false claims in this series are shown on a YouTube channel called Shiny Slander [11] which, in one series, documents at least 100 false claims and misrepresentations presented in the program. [12]
Here are just some of the proven false claims included in Shiny Happy People: Duggar Family Secrets:
Danika Dillon's claims of sexual abuse by Josh Duggar. [13] [14]
Bill Gothard and his family were living extravagantly off of IBLP money. [15] [16]
Fundamentalist Christian fathers spank their wives and older daughters. [17]
Christian homeschooling movement started due to racism and sexism.
There was rampant sexual assault happening within IBLP facilities. [18]
The lawsuit against Gothard and IBLP was dropped due to the statute of limitations. [10]
IBLP was seeking to take over the world by force.
ALERT Academy is a homeschool paramilitary militia. [19] [20] [21]
IBLP taught women to use infantile voices.
IBLP participants were required to wear a certain hair style. [22]
IBLP teaches that women cannot say "no" to men.
Fundamentalist Christian women must call their husbands "sir" or "lord" of they will be punished.
Fundamentalist Christian marriages require "domestic discipline contracts".
The Duggars were in line to take over IBLP when Gothard left.
Jill Duggar received nothing for her participation in their family TV show. [23]
IBLP facilities had gold-plated hallways.
IBLP seminars and programs were very expensive.
False abuse story of Bill Gothard in a Northwoods cabin. [24]
Bill Gothard molested girls in vans when traveling. [25]
There were no institutional checks and balances in the IBLP organization.
Bill Gothard showed an erection to a young woman. [26]
Bill Gothard committed rape. [27]
The Duggars are starting their own cult in Arkansas.
Anna Duggar has no education.
Advanced Training Institute families struggle financially due to educational neglect.
The Duggar TV show celebrated abuse.
Production
On December 22, 2021, it was reported that an untitled docuseries on the Duggar family and their association with the Institute in Basic Life Principles was in the works, to be produced by The Cinemart, Story Force, Chick Entertainment, and Amazon Studios. [28]
The series was directed and executive produced by Olivia Crist and Julia Willoughby Nason, and also executive produced by Cori Shepherd Stern, Blye Pagon Faust, Mike Gasparro, Jody McVeigh-Schultz, and Jenner Furst. [29] Jill Duggar Dillard is the only one of the 19 Duggar children featured on 19 Kids and Counting to appear in Shiny Happy People. [29] The series also features Jim Bob Duggar's sister Deanna Duggar and her daughter Amy King, and includes interviews with former participants of the Institute in Basic Life Principles' who claim their upbringing was abusive and it is IBLP's fault. [29] [30]
Reception
Rich Juzwiak of Jezebel claimed the series was "a damning portrait of a Christian organization that created a power structure leaving so many of its followers open to abuse, and a profile of exactly how that played out in one family." [29] Adrian Horton of The Guardian wrote, "A show that is initially about an odd corner of American celebrity morphs into a recounting of abuse within the family, to abuse propagated and protected by IBLP, and to the inroads fundamentalist, authoritarian-leaning Christianity has made in US schools, government and civic life." [32]
Holly McLean, the Mommy Answer Lady, began an investigation into the claims in the series. That investigation became a video series on YouTube and a documentary in the works called Shiny Slander, which exposes the false claims in Shiny Happy People: Duggar Family Secrets, using court documents, tax returns, testimonials, personal papers, interviews, IBLP materials, and other evidence that claims the program was designed to be used as propaganda against Christians and homeschoolers generally and is full of lies and misrepresentations.
