Even though Anna Duggar’s seemingly picture perfect life in Arkansas was turned upside down after her husband Josh Duggar was found guilty of child pornography, she has stuck by the sex offender’s side since his conviction nearly five years ago despite her family’s objections, Us Weekly has learned exclusively.
“Anna has several family members who have strongly encouraged her to leave Josh,” a source tells Us Weekly. “It has been very difficult to have those conversations because Anna has always been so supportive of Josh, but the family felt that they had to let her know their thoughts.”
The insider notes that Anna’s loved ones “do not want to lose their relationship with her, so they try to let her know what they think while also remaining supportive family members.”
Her family’s disapproval is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to what Anna has endured since Josh’s 2021 conviction.
“It is a nightmare for Anna that she will be dealing with for many, many years to come,” the source says of the scandal’s aftermath. “The only positive thing right now is that he is out of the picture [while in jail].”
Anna — who shares children Mackynzie, Michael, Marcus, Meredith, Mason, Maryella and Madyson with her 38-year-old husband— is trying to focus on the positives in her life while Josh serves more than 12 years in prison.
“Anna has worked very, very hard to get to where she is right now,” the insider explains. “She is not living with the Duggars and has begun to set up her own life.” (Anna, 37, was reportedly living on the Duggar compound in Arkansas as recently as last year.)
As Anna has distanced herself from the Duggars, she is “becoming independent and gaining strength,” the source tells Us.
“She has worked very hard to be strong and to stay out of the news and rebuild her life to a degree,” the insider adds.
Unlike many of her in-laws, Anna does not have her own personal social media account, helping to keep her life as far away from the spotlight as possible.
Anna does, however, periodically post on her dog breeding business Instagram account, Golden Grove Pups.
“Meet Whitaker, Beaumont, and Harrington — three of our handsome little golden guys 🐶💛,” Anna wrote via Instagram in February, showing a video of three puppies that had been adopted and giving fans a rare glimpse at herself in the process.
As fans of 19 Kids and Counting and its spinoff, Counting On, know, Anna married Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar’s eldest child, Josh, in 2008.
The couple went on to welcome six children, before their idyllic looking life came crashing down in spring 2021. (Anna and Josh’s seventh baby was born in November 2021, just months after his arrest.)
Josh was arrested in April 2021 for receiving and possessing child pornography. While Josh has maintained his innocence, he was found guilty in December of that same year and sentenced in May 2022 to 151 months in prison. He’s scheduled to be released on December 23, 2032.
“[Anna and Josh’s kids] are her No. 1 priority and that will never change,” a source exclusively told Us in June 2022 following his conviction. “She’s with them all the time. She’s going to stand by her husband and she’s going to continue raising their kids to the best of her ability.”
Although Anna has stayed silent about her husband’s arrest and prison sentence, emails she sent her brother-in-law Joseph Duggar last month following his arrest for allegedly molesting a 9-year-old girl in 2020 offer a look into how she’s feeling about the latest Duggar scandal.
“You’ve got our prayers. We love you — however we can help, please let us know,” Anna wrote to Joseph, 31, on March 21, according to letters obtained by Us.
She also warned him, “Just remember, don’t talk about anything legal unless you are with an attorney. Everything said in these messages, phone calls and video chats are recorded and turned over to prosecutors.”
Joseph was extradited to Florida last month, where he pleaded not guilty to charges of lewd and lascivious behavior involving molestation of a victim less than 12 years old and lewd and lascivious behavior conducted by a person 18 years or older. He was released on a $600,000 bond.
If you or someone you know is experiencing child abuse, call or text Child Help Hotline at 1-800-422-4453.
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