Josh Duggar admits to infidelity amid Ashley Madison scandal: 'I have been the biggest hypocrite ever'
"I have been the biggest hypocrite ever," he wrote on the official Duggar family website. "While espousing faith and family values, I have secretly over the last several years been viewing pornography on the internet and this became a secret addiction and I became unfaithful to my wife."
The mea culpa arrives after reports of his close to two-year Ashley Madison membership spread since a Gawker report late on Wednesday. Duggar's membership was just one of the 37 million identities revealed after the adultery site was hacked in July.
Before this controversy, Duggar admitted to molesting at least five young girls, including four of his sisters on the family's official Facebook page. TLC pulled "19 Kids" from airings in May and then officially canceled the show in July.
In addition, Duggar resigned from his position as executive director of conservative Christian lobbying group, the Family Research Council. As part of the FRC, Duggar fought against causes like gay marriage.
"The last few years, while publicly stating I was fighting against immorality in our country, I was hiding my own personal failings," he also said in Thursday's statement.
Read Duggar's full statement below:
I have been the biggest hypocrite ever. While espousing faith and family values, I have secretly over the last several years been viewing pornography on the internet and this became a secret addiction and I became unfaithful to my wife.
I am so ashamed of the double life that I have been living and am grieved for the hurt, pain and disgrace my sin has caused my wife and family, and most of all Jesus and all those who profess faith in Him.
I brought hurt and a reproach to my family, close friends and the fans of our show with my actions that happened when I was 14-15 years old, and now I have re-broken their trust.
The last few years, while publicly stating I was fighting against immorality in our country, I was hiding my own personal failings.
As I am learning the hard way, we have the freedom to choose to our actions, but we do not get to choose our consequences. I deeply regret all hurt I have caused so many by being such a bad example.
I humbly ask for your forgiveness. Please pray for my precious wife Anna and our family during this time.
Josh Duggar