TLC pulls plug on popular ‘19 Kids’
After weeks in limbo stemming from revelations of sexual misconduct by one of its stars, the TLC reality show “19 Kids and Counting” is officially dead.
TLC is not moving forward with an 11th season of “19 Kids” featuring the Duggars, whose show “will no longer appear on the air,” the network told the Associated Press on Thursday.
“We spent the past month and a half in thoughtful consideration about what is the best way forward here,” said Marjorie Kaplan, group president of TLC, Animal Planet and Velocity networks
In a move to redirect the attention and public outcry, TLC also announced it has teamed with two prominent child-protection organizations for an ongoing campaign to raise awareness about child sexual abuse.
Since 2008, the series – TLC’s most watched, averaging 3.2 million viewers — had chronicled the family life of Arkansas couple Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar and their children, now numbering 19. It was pulled from the network in May when reports surfaced that 27-year-old Josh Duggar, the oldest child, had fondled four of his sisters and a baby sitter a dozen years earlier, when he was a teenager. He has never been arrested or charged in connection with the molestations.
GM, activist group meet over Kid Rock
General Motors officials met Thursday with the leader of an activist group demanding the automaker cut financial ties with Kid Rock over the musician’s use of the Confederate battle flag, a discussion that both sides appeared optimistic about.
Neither GM nor the Rev. Charles Williams II gave details about the meeting, but their comments indicated that some sort of resolution seemed possible.
“Because we have had some dialogue that seems promising, we are continuing to meet – but we are not backing off,” said Williams, president of the National Action Network Detroit chapter.
The group has protested Kid Rock’s use of the flag. The musician’s publicist told the Detroit Free Press that he last used the flag on tour more than five years ago. Last week, Kid Rock emphatically dismissed critics’ concerns.
Williams said he couldn’t say whether Kid Rock was still using the flag in performances, but had concerns that he appears with the flag on social media.
The birthday bunch
Actor Donald Sutherland is 83. Actress-singer Diahann Carroll is 80. Actress Lucie Arnaz is 64. Actor David Hasselhoff is 63. Country singer Luke Bryan is 39.