Kendra Duggar is shedding light on how the Duggar family is truly handling the recent arrest of her husband, Joseph Duggar. In a recorded phone call to an Arkansas jail, Kendra shared her extended family's unfiltered emotions regarding the severe allegations against him.
During the call, which was recently obtained by TMZ, the 27-year-old mother of four urged Joseph to remember that his relatives still care for him, despite the gravity of the situation.
"Just know that everybody loves you—even if they're disappointed," Kendra told her 31-year-old husband. "Just understand that they love you, too."
Joseph replied that he completely understands "the disappointment" and clarified that he harbors no resentment toward his family for their reaction.
The emotional exchange took place just before Joseph's extradition to Florida, where he is accused of molesting a 9-year-old girl during a family vacation in 2020. During a virtual court appearance on March 31, the former reality TV star pleaded not guilty to charges of lewd and lascivious behavior involving unlawful sexual activity with a minor. A judge set his bond at $600,000 and explicitly barred him from having any contact with minors or the alleged victim. Court records indicate he was subsequently released on bond.
The legal woes are compounding for the couple. Beyond the Florida case, Joseph is facing four counts of second-degree child endangerment and four counts of second-degree false imprisonment in Arkansas. He has not yet entered a plea for the in-state charges. Kendra is also entangled in the legal fallout, having been charged with child endangerment and false imprisonment following Joseph's initial arrest on March 18.
Amid the chaos, both Kendra and Joseph are leaning heavily on their Christian faith. In their phone conversations, Kendra admitted to struggling emotionally, telling her husband that she frequently breaks down into tears at home and is choosing to take things "one moment at a time."
While behind bars, Joseph shared a glimpse into his stark reality. In a separate March 20 phone call released by People, he described being placed in solitary confinement.
"I'm in the cell 23 hours of the day. It's like an 8-by-10 area," Joseph explained. "I've been able to read a lot actually and resting some, but I'm not sleeping great through the night."
The scandal has sent shockwaves through the broader 19 Kids and Counting family. Joseph's parents, Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar, publicly addressed the controversy on March 30. A family spokesperson released a statement to Us Weekly, stating simply that the couple is "heartbroken over this entire situation."