Jinger Duggar Vuolo says she chose not to appear in the new docuseries, “Shiny Happy People: Duggar Family Secrets,” because she wanted to share her story in her own words.
“I was actually approached and asked to participate in the docuseries,” Vuolo told PEOPLE magazine, “but I thought that from my perspective, I really wanted to make sure that I was able to share my story in my own words and in my own timing.”
Vuolo’s memoir, “Becoming Free Indeed: My Story of Disentangling Faith from Fear,” released on Jan. 31. In it, she gives her perspective on her upbringing and her spiritual journey. “I wanted to be able to share it in a way that was, like, God-honoring and hopefully sharing my story in a balanced way,” she said.
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Jinger Duggar Vuolo’s Views on IBLP
Jinger Duggar Vuolo is the sixth child of Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar, whose family was featured in TLC’s reality show, “19 Kids and Counting,” and later, in TLC’s “Counting On.” The Duggars are the subject of a new, four-part docuseries released June 2 on Amazon Prime Video.
“Shiny Happy People: Duggar Family Secrets” explores the Duggars’ rise to fame through their reality shows and the impact the teachings of Bill Gothard and his Institute in Basic Life Principles (IBLP) had on the family and those they influenced. The docuseries makes the case that IBLP promoted a culture of spiritual and sexual abuse and that the Duggars perpetuated this culture by being a mouthpiece for the organization.
Jill Duggar Dillard, the fourth of Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar’s 19 children, and her husband, Derrick Dillard, appear in the docuseries, as does Jill’s cousin, Amy Duggar King. Jill told the producers that she “didn’t want to” do the interview, but she recognized “there’s a story that’s going to be told, and I would rather be the one telling it.”
Vuolo told PEOPLE that she had spoken with Jill about appearing in the docuseries, and while Vuolo made the decision to retain more control over how she shared her story, she respects her sister’s decision. “And I am excited to hear what she has to say, even in this documentary,” said Vuolo.
In an interview with ChurchLeaders about her new memoir, Vuolo shared that Gothard’s teachings are “based on fear, manipulation, control and superstition.” She used to believe that if she obeyed IBLP’s principles, her life would be successful, but if she did not, her life would be a failure. Beliefs Vuolo once held, but has since rejected, are that it is wrong for women to wear pants and that it is wrong to listen to rock music. Vuolo said she did not know what God expected of her and lived in constant fear of his punishment.
