It has only been nearly two weeks since the "19 Kids and Counting" star Josh Duggar admitted molesting five underage girls in 2002 and 2003, but at least a dozen advertisers have already decamped from TLC's hit reality TV show.
The 27-year-old reality star Josh Duggar's recent admittance to molesting several under-aged girls, including his sisters, during his teenage years has brought his TLC show "19 Kids and Counting" to an advertising exodus as 12 advertisers has already pulled out its support from the show.
Choice Hotels International, one of the show's advertisers, has revealed Tuesday morning that it will decamp from all the forthcoming episodes of the TLC reality program. On the same day also, Payless Shoe Source has disclosed that it has green lighted the removal of its ads from the said show as well.
General Mills has also confirmed the removal of the program from its current advertising schedule while the show's other advertiser, Walgreens, planned to "monitor the situation" first but later on pulled out its support from the show as well.
Shortly after the mentioned advertisers severed its ties with the show, a few more companies followed including Jimmy Dean, Pure Leaf Iced Tea, Ace Hardware, David's Bridal, ConAgra Foods, Party City and Behr Paint.
However, it seems like those companies will not be the only ones who will be cutting its ads from "19 Kids and Counting" as CVS, H&R Block, Ricola and Keurig are also determined to remove its advertising if TLC continues to air the show.
Meanwhile, the network has already released a word that it is removing the long-time running reality show from its schedule saying: "Effective immediately, TLC has pulled all episodes of 19 Kids and Counting currently from the air. We are deeply saddened and troubled by this heartbreaking situation, and our thoughts and prayers are with the family and victims at this difficult time."
"19 Kids and Counting" has debuted on 2008 and has just wrapped its 15th run recently. However, with a star involved in a molestation scandal and blocs of advertisers decamping from the program, it seems like the network will no longer reprise the hit reality TV show for another season.
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