Former reality star Josh Duggar responded Thursday to a report that he had an account with a service that helps people cheat on their spouses.
On his family's official website, the 27-year-old wrote about what he calls an addiction to porn, saying, "I have been the biggest hypocrite ever."
Duggar's name and email address appeared earlier this week after a hack leaked thousands of AshelyMadison.com accounts. The data showed that a Josh Duggar whose address was the same as the reality TV star was a member of the website from December 2012 to October 2014.
"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 wrote. "I am so ashamed of the double life that I have been living and am grieved for the hurt, pain and disgrace my sin has caused my wife and family, and most of all Jesus and all those who profess faith in Him."
Duggar, who has a wife and four children, has been in the news all summer for actions detailed in a police report from 12 years ago. The report said the then 14-year-old inappropriately touched minor girls, including his sisters. Duggar called those actions "inexcusable."
In the midst of that controversy, TLC canceled the show that made Duggar and his family famous, “19 Kids and Counting.”
Duggar addressed those issues in Thursday’s statement, saying, "I brought hurt and a reproach to my family, close friends and the fans of our show with my actions that happened when I was 14-15 years old, and now I have re-broken their trust. The last few years, while publicly stating I was fighting against immorality in our country, I was hiding my own personal failings."
"I humbly ask for your forgiveness. Please pray for my precious wife Anna and our family during this time."
Duggar's parents, Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar, added to Thursday's statement, writing: "When we learned of this late last night our hearts were broken. As we continue to place our trust in God, we ask for your prayers for Josh, Anna, our grandchildren and our entire family."
WSBTV
