Josh Duggar is once again making headlines after newly revealed prison emails exposed the deep tension between him and the rest of the Duggar family following his conviction on child sexual abuse material charges.
According to emails obtained by PEOPLE, Josh allegedly told his father, Jim Bob Duggar, that he felt abandoned by nearly all of his siblings after his 2021 arrest. In one message sent just days after he was sentenced to more than 12 years in federal prison, Josh claimed that only two of his 18 siblings had reached out to him during the year following his arrest.
“I really don’t care what anyone thinks about me at this point,” Josh reportedly wrote. “But I would expect at least a little bit of respect as a human being.”
The disgraced former reality TV star went on to call the lack of communication from his siblings “shameful,” claiming that only sister Jessa Duggar Seewald sent him a message while brother John-David Duggar participated in a single video visit.
Josh also reportedly asked Jim Bob to pass along a message to the rest of the family, where he criticized his siblings for failing to support him during what he described as the darkest moment of his life.
“With all due respect, shame on you that you didn’t reach out,” the message allegedly read.
He further urged his siblings to “examine” themselves and think about how they would want to be treated if they were the ones sitting in prison. Josh also pleaded for compassion toward his wife Anna Duggar and their seven children, saying Anna was “practically a widow” while their children were growing up “fatherless.”
The emails have sparked intense reactions online, with many criticizing Josh for portraying himself as the victim despite the seriousness of his crimes. Others believe the messages reveal long-standing fractures and emotional turmoil inside the Duggar family that have remained hidden from the public for years.
The revelations come as Josh continues serving his sentence at FCI Seagoville in Texas. His projected release date was recently pushed back again to February 2033 after additional time was added to his sentence.
Meanwhile, Josh is also continuing his final legal attempts to appeal his conviction, though previous appeals have already been denied by multiple courts.
