Jill Duggar Dillard, 32, launched her memoir, Counting the Price, on Sept. 12 and shared what her father, Jim Bob Duggar, 58, considered it throughout a brand new interview with TODAY on Sept. 18. In the course of the cellphone interview with the outlet, the 19 Youngsters and Counting alum claimed that her dad was “threatening” to chop his household “out of the inheritance,” in the event that they spoke out in opposition to him and his spouse, Michelle Duggar, 57.
“My dad texted the entire family group text (since we’re still in the group thread) and he was just saying, ‘This is so sad,’” Jill instructed the outlet days after her memoir was printed. “And basically threatening that if anybody speaks out against him or my mom that they would be cut out of the inheritance.” She additionally alleged that the 58-year-old instructed her and his children that they “owe” their “lives” to Invoice Gothard, the founding father of the Institute in Fundamental Life Ideas (IBLP).
As Jill and her father’s relationship grew extra strained over time, her husband Derick Dillard, 34, stepped in to guard his spouse. “My relationship with my dad got pretty toxic to the point where we had to cut off individual contact with him,” she instructed TODAY. “It got to the point where Derick was there to step in and kind of say, ‘Hey, don’t reach out to my wife individually or else I’ll have to file a protective order,’ just because it was so hard for me to handle.” Derick and Jill have been married since 2014 and share three youngsters.
At that time within the interview, Derick defined the “boundary” that he and his spouse set with the Duggar patriarch. “(Jim Bob) knew that Jill was, not in a bad way, but very emotional, very tender hearted. So he would play to that,” the 34-year-old stated. “And I’d asked, ‘Please don’t contact her on her own, one-on-one.’ And then he had done that again. That’s when I basically said, ‘Hey, if you can’t abide by this boundary, because we’re trying to do better setting boundaries, then I’ll have to file a protective order.”
Regardless of the household’s falling out, Jill did admit that she and her husband have “hope” for “reconciliation” if there may be “real” change. “I think actual change would have to take place in some relationships. We really do hope for reconciliation, but also with some of my siblings and these relationships, I also realized that sometimes there’s a need for space and time,” she shared. “And while we realize that life is short, we’re also not going to be intimidated by that and pressured to have a false sense of healing.”
Following the discharge of her memoir, Jim Bob and his spouse launched a press release to PEOPLE on Sept. 12. “We love all of our children very much. As with any family, few things are more painful than conflicts or problems among those you love. We’ve aimed to deal honorably with our children, our finances, and our other endeavors,” the observe started. “While imperfect, it is our intent and desire to live a life that honors Christ. We do not believe the best way to resolve conflicts, facilitate forgiveness and reconciliation, or to communicate through difficulties is through the media or in a public forum so we will not comment.”
Additionally they addressed their future relationship with their household. “As the future unfolds, we will continue to love our family, pray for them, and enjoy every moment gifted to us to be parents and grandparents,” they concluded. Jill additionally touched upon her mother and father function as grandparents to her children through the interview with TODAY. “We do love our family ultimately, and I would love for my kids to have their grandparents involved more in their lives, but we also want to make sure that it’s a healthy relationship,” she stated.
