Josh Duggar Admits to Being Unfaithful

The Duggar family continues to address things like a family: In a statement posted to the family website in the wake of yesterday's report about his alleged Ashley Madison accounts, Josh Duggar starts as follows: "I have been the biggest hypocrite ever. While espousing faith and family values, I have secretly over the last several years been viewing pornography on the internet and this became a secret addiction and I became unfaithful to my wife." He goes on to express shame about his "double life" and acknowledges that his actions as a teen hurt his friends, family, and fans, and that he has "re-broken their trust."

Though he is light on details, he says his "personal failings" have gone on for the "last few years." He continues, "As I am learning the hard way, we have the freedom to choose our actions, but we do not get to choose our consequences. I deeply regret all hurt I have caused so many by being such a bad example." He asks for forgiveness and for prayers for his immediate family: "for my precious wife Anna and our family." His statement was preceded on the page by a brief one from his parents, who say they are heartbroken but "continue to place our trust in God [and] ask for your prayers for Josh, Anna, our grandchildren and our entire family." (More Josh Duggar stories.)