EXCLUSIVE: Mama June Shannon reacts to TLC pulling '19 Kids and Counting': 'I feel cheated still!'
Mama June Shannon is talking to ET exclusively following TLC's decision to pull all episodes of 19 Kids and Counting -- but not canceling the entire series yet.
On Thursday, In Touch reported that 19 Kids' eldest son, Josh Duggar, had molested five girls, starting in 2002. According to In Touch, the girls may have included some of his sisters. "Twelve years ago, as a young teenager, I acted inexcusably," Duggar, now 27, said in a statement on his Facebook.
Shannon's own popular TLC reality show, Here Comes Honey Boo Boo, was canceled last October following reports that she was dating convicted child molester Mark McDaniel. McDaniel was convicted of molesting Shannon's oldest daughter, Anna Cardwell, when she was 8 years old. Shannon denied last fall that she and McDaniel had renewed a romantic relationship.
"I feel cheated still," she tells ET. She also claims TLC knew about the accusations against Duggar for years. "[TLC] knew about [Josh Duggar] since 2006 and didn't do anything. They kept filming the show, but as soon as rumors started they canceled Honey Boo Boo quick."
The 35-year-old reality star says that if 19 Kids and Counting does not get canceled, she is prepared to take legal action against TLC.
"If they are not completely canceled I will be pissed, and I do have grounds for going after them, for canceling us and wrongfully firing us and not them," she tells ET.
According to the police report -- which In Touch obtained -- Josh allegedly fondled the breasts and genitals of the alleged victims when he was 14 years old.
Duggar posted a lengthy statement on his family's Facebook. "I hurt others, including my family and close friends. I confessed this to my parents who took several steps to help me address the situation. We spoke with the authorities where I confessed my wrongdoing, and my parents arranged for me and those affected by my actions to receive counseling. I understood that if I continued down this wrong road that I would end up ruining my life."
TLC responded to the scandal on Friday. "TLC has pulled all episodes of 19 Kids and Counting currently from the air," the network said in a statement to ET. "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."
Watch the video below for more on Josh's response to the molestation allegations.
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