Amy Duggar King was emotional to learn that her cousin Joseph Duggar’s wife, Kendra Duggar, had also been arrested.
“I don’t know what’s going on, and our local news is saying that there’s more and there’s been someone else who’s been arrested,” Amy, 39, tearfully said in a Friday, March 20, video shared via her Instagram Stories. “I don’t know, I just thought everyone should know there’s more to this story. I don’t know what it is though.”
Two hours later, Amy posted a picture of a black screen to her Stories without further explanation.
Joseph, 31, was arrested on Wednesday, March 18, for unlawful sexual activity with a minor. He was accused of molesting a 9-year-old girl during a vacation in Florida. The victim, now 14, claimed in a police statement that the reality TV alum “eventually apologized for his actions and the incidents stopped after the apology.”
News broke days later on Friday that Joseph, who is currently awaiting extradition to Florida, is also facing four counts endangering the welfare of a minor, second degree and four counts of second degree false imprisonment alongside his wife. Kendra, 27, was arrested on Friday afternoon and released that same day on a $1,470 bond. (Kendra, who shares four kids with Joseph, has a court hearing on Monday, March 23.)
Joseph is one of Jim Bob Duggar and Michelle Duggar’s 19 children. Jim Bob’s sister, Deanna Duggar, is the mother of Amy. While the cousins grew up together in Arkansas, Amy had a less restrictive upbringing. Amy was among one of the first Duggar relatives to break her silence on Joseph’s arrest.
“My first thoughts are with the victim, a child who deserved to be safe, protected and surrounded by people she could trust,” Amy said in a Friday statement to Us Weekly, addressing Joseph’s arrest. “The courage it took for her to come forward, especially after years of carrying something so heavy, cannot be overstated. That bravery deserves to be honored above all else.”
Amy also read her statement aloud in an Instagram video, adding, “I can’t believe this is happening again.”
After Amy’s message started receiving an onslaught of “hateful” comments, she issued a scathing clapback.
“I will not put up with hateful, horrible comments for no reason at all,” she said in a follow-up video via her Instagram Stories. “It is 2026, OK? No one has time to be mean and hateful people that are trying to tell you the truth and trying to just offer sympathy to the victims. If that’s all you’re going on my page [for], then there’s no place for you on there, and I will block you happily.”
She concluded, “It just drives me crazy, the last thing I need is negativity. The last thing anyone needs right now is negativity. I love my community because we’re sweet and we’re kind and we’re supportive. If you’re not going to be that, then get out.”
If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673). If you or someone you know is experiencing child abuse, call or text Child Help Hotline at 1-800-422-4453.
