Jill Duggar Says She 'Never Expected' To Distance Herself From Her Family

Earlier this month, Jill Duggar Dillard confirmed rumors of ongoing feud with her parents Jim Bob Duggar and Michelle Duggar, as well as the rest of their large family. "We’re not on the best terms with some of my family," Jill said in a Vlog posted to her YouTube channel. "We’ve had some disagreements, but we’re working towards healing definitely and restoration, but we’re having to kind of just take some time and heal.”

As fans of TLC's reality show 19 Kids and Counting know, Jill grew up on television alongside her 18 siblings. Following the cancellation of 19 Kids and Counting, Jill went on to star in a spinoff called Counting On with her sister Jessa Duggar Seewald and their husbands. Back in 2017, however, Jill departed the family business with her husband Derick Dillard. Though it was reported the couple was fired after Derick posted transphobic messages about fellow TLC star Jazz Jennings on Twitter, Jill and Derick maintain it was their personal decision to leave the show. The rift between Jill and her family reportedly began when they departed the show.

In a new interview with People, Jill and Derick shared some more insight into the ongoing feud with Jim Bob, Michelle and the other Duggar children. "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 of their unhappiness with being on the show. Derick, who is now law school, added: "The first few years of our marriage, we spent time and money working towards opportunities only to hit a dead end when we'd be told, 'Well, you're not allowed to do that.'"

Jill claims that when they decided to leave the show, their decision "didn't go over very well with anyone." Her family's reaction was apparently the last straw for Jill and Derick. "By that point we'd had enough. We knew we had to pull out completely to reevaluate and get our bearings," Jill said.

"I never expected this to happen or for it to get to this point," Jill said of the disagreement with her family. "But I'm realizing I can't put a timeline on healing. I love my family and they love me. I really just have to follow God's lead and take it one day at a time."

Since departing the show and putting some distance between her and the rest of the Duggars, Jill has decided to forgo some of the strict rules she was raised to adhere to. According to People, in the last three years Jill has gotten a nose ring, tried various cocktails and glasses of wine, and worn jeans. ."Sometimes it's a good thing being okay with other people not being okay," she said.

Jim Bob and Michelle provided a statement about Jill and Derick to People for their interview, as well. "Every family has differences of opinion and perspective at times, but families work things out. We all love Jill, Derick, and their boys very much. It is our prayer that our relationship is healed and fully restored quickly!"

Photo: Getty


Sponsored Content

Sponsored Content