Paul and Morgan Olliges, Christian influencers who appeared in the docuseries “Shiny Happy People: Duggar Family Secrets,” say the producers lied to them about how they would be portrayed in the show.
In a video reacting to the docuseries, which focuses on the Duggar family and the Institute in Basic Life Principles (IBLP), Paul Olliges characterized the way he and his wife were portrayed as a “hit piece of literally being lumped in with the IBLP, with extremism, with cultism.”
Paul and Morgan Olliges Give Their Side of the Story
Paul and Morgan Olliges create longform content on YouTube, where their tagline is, “Honest and entertaining relationship talk!” Their YouTube channel says, “We want our lives to glorify Jesus Christ above all else,” and their videos cover topics including sex, current events, and Bethel Church.
“Shiny Happy People: Duggar Family Secrets” released on Amazon Prime Video on Friday, June 2, and explores the rise and influence of the Duggar family, as well as the impact of IBLP on the Duggars and many other people. The Institute in Basic Life Principles is an organization that aims to teach people to follow Bible-based concepts so they can lead flourishing lives.
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IBLP has come under fire in recent years due to its alleged legalism and fear-based teachings, as well as sex abuse allegations directed at founder Bill Gothard. The docuseries depicts IBLP—and the Duggars as its primary spokespeople—as fostering and perpetuating spiritual and sexual abuse.
In a June 5 video from the Olliges titled, “Our INSIDE Story Being In The ‘Shiny Happy People’ Duggar Documentary,” Morgan acknowledged that “serious wrongdoings” in IBLP should be brought to light and that survivors need healing. “We believe that this docuseries and many alike…all have a purpose,” she said, citing Hulu’s “Secrets of Hillsong” and Discovery+’s “Hillsong: A Megachurch Exposed” as other examples.
However, such documentaries all “completely fail” at a point, said Morgan, “because they are made by people who are not Christians, who maybe even have a vendetta against Christianity.”
“Every single one of these docuseries has some major problems,” she continued, “one being they almost never interview people who are still firmly walking in faith with the Lord. Or, if they do interview those people, like they interviewed us, they do not allow them to share that faith or where they’re at now…They don’t allow the gospel to be shared.”
