JINGER Duggar has lashed out at the “harsh” and “unkind” family members who were not happy with her for criticizing her upbringing in her book.
The former Counting On star, 31, was publicly snubbed by her sisters Jessa Duggar and rarely-seen Jana Marie when she released the bombshell memoir.
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Jinger’s book, called Becoming Free Indeed, exposed her parents Jim Bob, 59, and Michelle Duggar, 58, and lifted the lid on their extreme religious beliefs.
It detailed Jinger’s experiences as she struggled to move on from a restrictive faith and revealed how she was ordered to follow strict modesty guidelines, always obey her parents and other authority figures, and shun virtually all aspects of pop culture.
As she prepares to release a second book, Jinger has spoken out about the negative backlash she received from her “loved ones” when Becoming Free Indeed was released.
In an interview with PEOPLE, the star – who is expecting her third baby with husband Jeremy Vuolo – said their reaction was “not easy” to take.
Jinger, who reunited with her mom and all her sisters at Christmas, told the publication: “Yes, there were critics. Yes, there were people who were saying very harsh things.
“There were loved ones that would say things that were very unkind.
“It was not easy. But at the end of the day, I realized it was the best decision. It was the best thing that I could have done, to love these people by sharing truth.”
Becoming Free Indeed was released in 2023 and detailed Jinger’s family‘s involvement in ultra Christian organization, the Institute in Basic Life Principles (IBLP).
Jinger wrote: “If you want to be sure your leaders are teaching you truth, keep your Bible open and compare what they are telling you to what the Bible actually says.”
She also wrote about her brother Josh, who is currently in jail for possession of child abuse images.
“I haven’t spoken to him in years,” Jinger penned. “I just would pray that he would be truly broken over what he has done. So I just pray for the victims and their families.”
At the time of its release, fans noticed Jinger’s older sisters Jessa, 32, and Jana, 34, refused to publicly comment on it.
In comparison, Jinger, sister Jill, 33, and 38-year-old cousin Amy did show their support.
After receiving a hardcover copy of the book, Jill posed for a snap while holding it and shared it on social media.
Jinger’s older sister gushed, “Look what came in!
“Thanks, Jinge for sending me a copy of Becoming Free Indeed!”
Cousin Amy – who appeared on 19 Kids and Counting – also spoke out about how proud she was with Jinger for refusing to stay silent.
Amy told The U.S. Sun at the time: “I knew she was writing a book and I’m proud of her.
“She’s speaking up, she’s using her voice, and she’s doing just fine [since leaving]. She’s got a huge following and that’s awesome.”
Amy concluded: “So I’m team Jinger!”
Duggar Family Tree
How many children and grandchildren do Michelle and Jim Bob Duggar have?
- Jim Bob and Michelle are parents to 19 children
- The couple has nine girls and 10 boys and all of their children have names that begin with the letter J
- Joshua, Jana, John-David, Jill, Jessa, Jinger, Joseph, Josiah, Joy-Anna, Jedidiah, Jeremiah, Jason, James, Justin, Jackson, Johannah, Jennifer, Jordyn-Grace, and Josie, were all raised in the family home in Tontitown, Arkansas
Jinger’s new book is called People Pleaser: Breaking Free from the Burden of Imaginary Expectations and it is released on January 14.
The self-help read sees the pregnant star sharing her “personal journey” to self-discovery and breaking the habit of ‘people pleasing’.
Amazon states that readers “can learn how to identify sin and how it can hinder your ability to be in community with one another”.
Jinger also told PEOPLE this week: “I will say I’m not perfect. I haven’t arrived, I don’t have all the answers, but [I’m] just sharing along my journey and how I’ve seen steps to just be able to think differently.”
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