By far the biggest scandal the Duggar family has faced was in 2015 when Josh Duggar made headlines for engaging in sexual misconduct as a teen. According to the police report, Josh molested his sisters and other children over the course of several years. The first incident reported was in March of 2003 when Josh admitted to his father that he sometimes fondled the breasts and genitals of young women sleeping in their family home. Similar incidents occur over ensuing months, including an incident in which Josh molested a victim who was sitting in his lap.

The public was not only outraged by the incident itself, but the manner in which it was reportedly handled by Jim Bob and Michelle. Josh was never punished but instead put through a Christian counseling program. While the incidents were reported to the police, Josh only received a stern talking to by a state trooper. The trooper, who was later sent to prison for child pornography charges, claimed Jim Bob was not upfront about the extent of the sexual abuse that occurred in the Duggar home.

Public outrage was intense when the story broke. Several advertisers, including Walgreens and Payless, pulled their ads from 19 Kids And Counting. The show was eventually cancelled by TLC.