David Welker/TLC(NEW YORK) — A handful of sponsors confirmed Tuesday they are no longer advertising with 19 Kids and Counting, after Josh Duggar last week responded to reports that he inappropriately touched minors several years ago.
A spokesperson for Payless ShoeSource told ABC News, “Payless’ ads ran during this show as part of a larger buy with TLC. We are taking steps to have them removed from future episodes.”
Choice Hotels and Walgreens similarly confirmed that they are no longer advertising with the show.
Last week, In Touch magazine reported that Duggar was investigated in 2006 for alleged misconduct starting when he was 14 years old.
He responded to the report in a statement provided to People magazine and later posted to Facebook, admitting, “Twelve years ago, as a young teenager, I acted inexcusably for which I am extremely sorry and deeply regret. I hurt others, including my family and close friends. …I sought forgiveness from those I had wronged.”
On Friday, TLC announced it was pulling all episodes of 19 Kids and Counting from the air. It’s unclear when or if the show will return.
Copyright © 2015, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.
