The former “19 Kids and Counting” star said his parents are trying to “look good” while he remains in prison.

Josh Duggar calls out Michelle and Jim Bob Duggar for ‘blaming’ him amid child molestation charges

The former "19 Kids and Counting" star said his parents are trying to "look good" while he remains in prison.

By Sharareh Drury

May 5, 2026 6:39 p.m. ET

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Josh Duggar, Michelle Duggar, and Jim Bob Duggar. Credit:

Kris Connor/Getty; Peter Kramer/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty (2)

- Josh Duggar says parents Michelle and Jim Bob Duggar "don't understand" how they've hurt him by "trying to make yourselves 'look good.'"

- The former *19 Kids and Counting* star was convicted of possessing child sexual abuse material in 2021 is set to be released in 2033.

- Josh wrote in a text message to his mother Michelle that she seems to "worry about pr more than anything else sometimes."**

Josh Duggar is stressing his innocence while calling out his parents Michelle and Jim Bob Duggar for putting their image above family.

In text messages from Josh to his mother obtained by PEOPLE, the former *19 Kids and Counting* star wrote of how "disappointed" he was with his parents for "blaming" him following his child pornography conviction in December 2021.

"I feel like you just don't receive criticism or take admission for your own actions THAT HAVE DIRECTLY AFFECTED (sic) MY LIFE, including in this situation," Josh wrote. "I AM NOT BLAMING YOUR FOR THE SITUATION, BUT YOU ARE BLAMING ME - AND YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW THE TRUTH - YOU SAID THAT YOURSELF TODAY."

The 38-year-old, whose original 151-month prison sentence was extended an extra two months last week, reportedly claimed his innocence in multiple messages to Michelle, while saying another man who worked at a used car dealership with him had downloaded child pornography images and videos to his computer.

* *has reached out to Josh Duggar and Michelle and Jim Bob Duggar for further comment.

Josh Duggar's mugshot. Washington County Sheriff

Josh continued by writing that his parents "don't understand" how they've hurt him by "trying to make yourselves 'look good' instead of trying to be concerned about your responses to my charges or anything else in my life."

PEOPLE noted that Josh sent messages to his mother three months ago sharing how challenging it was to be in jail while his family continued with their lives, while also calling out his family for prioritizing their public image "above family relationships." He added that Michelle seemed to "worry about pr more than anything else sometimes."

As Duggar's fourth and final appeal of his 2021 conviction is underway, he wrote that he is "not trying to shift blame for anything" but asked his mother to "consider your role and change so that other children are not in the same situations later."

Josh Duggar's prison sentence extended as cousin Amy claims he's in solitary confinement

Josh Duggar speaks out from jail on brother Joseph's child sex abuse allegations

The Duggar family on '19 Kids and Counting.'.

Tlc/Kobal/Shutterstock

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The Duggar family has recently been dealing with another legal matter concerning Joseph Duggar. The 31-year-old was arrested on March 18 charges of lewd and lascivious molestation of a victim less than 12 years old and lewd and lascivious behavior conducted by a person 18 years or older. He is accused of molesting a 9-year-old girl while on vacation in Panama City, Fla., in 2020.

Joseph has entered a plea of not guilty and is scheduled to be arraigned on May 18.

*If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual abuse, text "STRENGTH" to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor. If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or go to **rainn.org*.

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Source: “EW Celebrity”