Amy Duggar King Speaks Out After Her Cousin’s Joseph Duggar Arrest, Points to ‘Toxic System’ [WATCH]

Amy Duggar King is speaking out following the arrest of her cousin, Joseph Duggar, saying the situation highlights what she described as a “toxic system” within the Duggar family that “breeds secrecy.”

As Fox News reported, the 39-year-old told Fox News Digital that the circumstances surrounding the arrest point to a broader pattern within the family structure.

“I think there’s just a lot of victims in this whole situation because this whole, entire toxic cycle of this pattern, this system breeds this,” Duggar King said.

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“It breeds secrecy. It breeds broken hearts. It breeds being untrue to your wife or to your husband, and things get swept under the rug.”

She added, “I just don’t think people are putting up with that anymore. And the rug is being completely lifted.”

Joseph Duggar, 31, was arrested March 18 in Tontitown, Arkansas, where he lives with his family, according to The Associated Press.

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He has been charged with lewd and lascivious behavior toward a child under 12, based on an arrest affidavit from the Bay County Sheriff’s Office in Panama City, Florida.

Authorities also filed charges against his wife, Kendra Duggar, 27, in Arkansas. The Tontitown Police Department said those charges include four counts of endangering the welfare of a minor and four counts of false imprisonment.

Joseph Duggar has entered a not guilty plea to all charges and is scheduled to return to court on April 20.

The case comes nearly five years after his older brother, Josh Duggar, was convicted of downloading child sexual abuse images.

The Duggar family gained national attention through the TLC show “19 Kids and Counting,” which was later canceled following reports that Josh Duggar had molested four of his sisters and a babysitter.

In her 2025 memoir, “Holy Disruptor,” Duggar King wrote about alleged abuse within the family, including claims that her late grandfather, Jimmy Lee Duggar, was physically abusive and a “predator.”

She said she also confronted Josh Duggar following earlier allegations.

“I called this in my book, and that’s not a celebration for me,” Duggar King said.

“I don’t want to be right about these kinds of situations, but abuse will happen and will continue to go down the bloodline until it is completely removed and cut off and healed from.”

She said she is still processing the news of her cousin’s arrest.

“My initial reaction [was] my heart plummeted,” she said.

“Out of all my cousins, Joe was the last person that I thought this would happen to. I was shocked that it was who it was.”

Duggar King continued, “I’m not shocked that in this toxic system that allows secrecy to be rewarded, and that these kids have to fall in line. And, in my opinion, there’s no accountability for the men.”

“I believe if you’re in a toxic system like that and every man is the extreme leader, and they don’t answer to anyone, they honestly think they’re above the law, then that’s going to lead to abuse of power.”

Several family members have expressed shock and heartbreak following the arrest, but Duggar King said more than statements are needed.

“I love that people speak their truth, and I love that my cousins are doing so,” she said. “However, it’s not just glossy words that need to take place. There actually needs to be a change.”

She also addressed criticism that her comments are tied to promoting her book.

“I’m going to use my voice to inspire change and to be bold about things that are harmful, and are horrible, and that are devastating,” Duggar King said.

“And I grew up with this family. I spent countless hours with this family. So, it’s not necessarily about my book.”

“The critics that are saying the things that they’re saying, they don’t see my heart,” she said.

“They don’t know me personally. And I’m not going to listen to such negativity because I have such a huge community of people who are supportive and just see a hurting cousin.”

The Tontitown Police Department said the investigation remains ongoing.

“I hope people look at their own family bloodlines and really look at the things that have gone on,” Duggar King said. “You can break toxic cycles.”

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