Josh Duggar Complained Family ‘Saying Hurtful Things’ Was ‘So Hard to Deal With’ After Convictions

Josh Duggar seemingly had a hard time adjusting to life behind bars after he was convicted of receiving and possessing child sexual abuse material and sentenced to 151 months in prison.

In a text message recently obtained by People, Josh, 38, allegedly told his mom, Michelle Duggar, that “strangers” had shown him “more compassion and love” than his family and “close friends.” The message was sent just a month after he began his sentence in June 2022.

“[F]amily members continuing to judge and condemn, saying hurtful things is so hard to deal with,” he lamented.

The 19 Kids and Counting alum went on to take aim at certain relatives, writing that he was “still in shock and awe of how hurtful and judgmental people can be.” Josh added that some were showing “less character” than even “non-believers,” whom he would expect to be “prideful and hateful.”

The former reality star argued that some people were quick to overlook their own “indiscretions” while preaching “redemption, love, grace, mercy, wisdom,” without extending those same values to him or his family. He also claimed there was a lack of “decency and respect” for the “seven little kids and wife crying themselves to sleep every night without daddy.”

Josh shares seven children with his wife, Anna, and she has continued to stick by his side while he serves out his time behind bars.

According to Josh, those same individuals were willing “to get on an airplane or drive [a] truck and trailer to help perfect strangers,” even “risking their lives,” but didn’t show that same compassion to him. He wrote that it felt as though “they enjoy it and they have been waiting to ambush me.”

In the lengthy text message to Michelle, 59, Josh maintained his innocence saying that “the guy who did the crime that put [him] in [there]” was at the “top of [his] list” of those he was “trying to forgive.”

People reported that Michelle eventually replied to Josh, writing, “I’m so sorry for all that you, your precious bride, and sweet children are going through.”

Earlier this week, Josh’s cousin, Amy Duggar, claimed that he had recently been placed in solitary confinement for violating prison rules. She also alleged that his release date has been pushed back. While Josh was initially supposed to be released in August 2032, People reported that it’s now set for February 2033.