General Mills pulls ads from '19 Kids and Counting' after molestation scandal

By The Wrap

The Wrap
May 23, 2015 at 1:41PM
In this image released by TLC, Anna and Josh Duggar pose Friday, April 10, 2009 in Springdale, Ark.
In this image released by TLC, Anna and Josh Duggar pose Friday, April 10, 2009 in Springdale, Ark. (Associated Press/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

General Mills is saying "Cheerio" to "19 Kids and Counting."

As the sexual molestation scandal surrounding "19 Kids" star Josh Duggar gains more attention, food manufacturing giant General Mills is hitting the TLC reality show in the pocketbook.

The Golden Valley-based company has decided to pull the show from its advertising schedule, a spokesman told TheWrap on Friday.

That's not the only schedule that "19 Kids" has been pulled from — on Friday, TLC announced that it had yanked all episodes of the popular reality show from the air.

In a statement on Friday, the network also said that it is "deeply saddened and troubled by this heartbreaking situation, and our thoughts and prayers are with the family and victims at this difficult time."

On Thursday, after reports surfaced that Duggar had been accused of sexually molesting multiple underage girls, some of them his sisters, the reality TV star admitted to acting "inexcusably" while a teenager.

"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," Duggar told People in a statement. "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."

As a result of the scandal, Duggar has also resigned from the Family Research Council. Duggar had served as executive director of FRC Action, the Council's legislative affiliate.

Josh Duggar
Josh Duggar (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
FILE - In this Aug. 2, 2007 file photo, Michelle Duggar, left, is surrounded by her children and husband Jim Bob, second from left, after the birth of her 17th child in Rogers, Ark. Arkansas couple Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar announced Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2011 that they are expecting their 20th child in April. (AP Photo/ Beth Hall, File)
FILE - In this Aug. 2, 2007 file photo, Michelle Duggar, left, is surrounded by her children and husband Jim Bob, second from left, after the birth of her 17th child in Rogers, Ark. Arkansas couple Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar announced Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2011 that they are expecting their 20th child in April. (AP Photo/ Beth Hall, File) (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
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