Originally appeared on E! Online
Kendra Duggar is sharing the Duggar family’s unfiltered reaction.
Ahead of Joseph Duggar’s extradition to Florida where he has been accused of molesting a then-9-year-old girl during a 2020 family vacation, his wife revealed how his family has processed the details of his arrest in a phone call to an Arkansas jail.
“Just know that everybody loves you—even if they’re disappointed,” the 27-year-old told Joseph, 31, in a recording published by TMZ March 31. “Just understand that they love you, too.”
Though Joseph, who shares four kids with Kendra, said he understands “the disappointment,” he clarified that he’s “not upset or anything like that.”
He made a virtual appearance in Florida court on March 31, pleading not guilty to lewd and lascivious behavior involving unlawful sexual activity with a minor. His bond was set at $600,000, with a judge barring him from having contact with his alleged victim as well as any minors upon his release from custody.
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Court documents obtained by E! News showed that Joseph was released on bond following his hearing.
For now, Kendra—who was charged with child endangerment and false imprisonment in Arkansas following her husband’s March 18 arrest—is leaning on her faith. As she told the 19 Kids and Counting alum in their phone call, “God is gonna get us through this one day at a time.”
“Every time I look up the staircase I melt into a puddle,” she added, “so we’ve decided to take it one day at a time, one moment at a time.”
Joseph has also relied on his Christian teachings while behind bars, telling Kendra in a separate phone call on March 20 that he’s “been spending a lot of time reading the Bible.”
Office of the Sheriff Washington County, Arkansas
“I’m in solitary. I’m in the cell 23 hours of the day. It’s like an 8-by-10 area,” Joseph shared in a recording published by People. “I’ve been able to read a lot actually and resting some, but I’m not sleeping great through the night.”
Appearing to be sympathetic toward Joseph’s arrangement, Kendra replied, “Aww.”
“It’s good to hear from you,” she continued, after Joseph told her that it was “good to hear your voice.”
In addition to his charges in Florida, Joseph is also facing four counts of endangering the welfare of a minor in the second degree and four counts of false imprisonment in the second degree in his home state. He has not entered a plea for his charges in Arkansas.
E! News has reached out to attorneys for Joseph and Kendra for comment but hasn’t heard back.
For more of what Joseph’s family has said about his arrest, read on.
Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar
Joseph’s parents Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar broke their silence in a statement on March 30.
“Jim Bob and Michelle are heartbroken over this entire situation,” a spokesperson for the Duggar family told Us Weekly. “Right now, they are focused on loving their family and helping Kendra and her children during this difficult time.”
The spokesperson added that the couple was “praying for the victim. They ask for privacy and appreciate the kind words and prayers offered by so many.”
Jill Duggar Dillard & Derick Dillard
“We were shocked yesterday evening to learn of Jill’s brother (Joseph Duggar’s) arrest,” the couple wrote in a blog post March 19. “We first learned of anything related to his charges yesterday via a text from a friend who messaged us about the recent media reports of Joseph’s arrest and his alleged confession to molesting a juvenile female in 2020. We are shocked and heartbroken.”
Derick and Jill—who spoke out against the family in the 2023 book Counting the Cost—said they “strongly condemn abuse.”
Jason Duggar & Maddie Duggar
The couple, who married in 2024, said they are “angered” by the “unthinkable” actions of his brother Joseph.
“We, like many, have spent the week completely shocked, confused, and grieved to list a few emotions,” Jason and Maddie said in a statement shared on Instagram March 26. “We are disgusted to hear the news about my brother, however, this isn’t about how it’s impacted our lives. Our hearts are burdened because a child’s life has been turned upside down due to evil actions of someone who should have never hurt the vulnerable.”
“Maddie and I have always had a special place in our hearts for the vulnerable around us, and we will continue to do so,” their message went on. “To fathom that someone would abuse their authority to harass the innocent is vile.”
They asked for prayers for the “brave” victim as well as Joseph’s family, saying, “His children must face the reality of losing a father that should have been a spiritual leader in their lives.”
Josh Duggar
“Josh understands the stigma of being accused,” his attorney told the Daily Mail in a story published March 20. “He lives with the painful reality of how false accusations can destroy a life. He understands how the targeting of a person for publicity can twist the truth into sensationalized fiction.”
Noting that Josh—who is serving 12 years in prison for child pornography—is “not in frequent communication” with Joseph, the attorney said Josh “hopes and prays for his brother’s well being in this difficult time.”
Joy-Anna Duggar Forsyth
“What has come out about my brother is heartbreaking and deeply disturbing,” Joy-Anna wrote on her Instagram Stories March 26. “My heart is with the victim, and I am grieved by the pain and harm caused. I have been a wreck this week and am taking time to process.”
She added, “I will be taking some much-needed time with my family.”
Jinger Duggar Vuolo & Jeremy Vuolo
As Jeremy put it in March 25 episode of The Jinger & Jeremy Podcast, “It’s been a really difficult week for us to process and think through and pray through this with the podcast.”
As for Jinger—who moved to Los Angeles with Jeremy in 2019—she said, “I did not think my heart could break like it has this week,” adding, “The pain and heartbreak that we’ve had over this and just thinking of how it’s affected so many. It’s just unthinkable. It’s so hard and painful on many levels.”
“It’s hard,” she continued. “All we can do in those moments is cry out to God and ask him to sustain us and give help because you can’t just be prepared for news like this.”
Amy Duggar King
“I am sickened, heartbroken and deeply angry,” Joseph’s cousin said in a March 20 statement to People. “My first thoughts are with the victim, a child who deserved to be safe, protected and surrounded by people she could trust.”
Amy explained she was “utterly shocked to hear about these allegations and Joseph’s arrest.”
“For years, I have spoken out about the importance of truth, accountability and protecting children, even when it meant going against my own family,” she added. “Family ties should never equal automatic trust or access, especially when it comes to the safety of children.”
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