Jim Bob Duggar Says Petition to Cancel 19 Kids and Counting Has Only Given His Family's Show "More Exposure"

Reality star also assures viewers that the family continues to "love everybody"

By Mike Vulpo Dec 16, 2014 11:38 PMTags
Michelle Duggar, Jim Bob DuggarPeter Kramer/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images

Jim Bob Duggar knows his family has plenty of critics.

It was made extra clear last month when an online petition urging TLC to cancel the family's reality show gained so much momentum that it received more than 180,000 signatures.

Despite plenty of buzz surrounding the Change.org petition, the patriarch behind the Duggar family said the movement never really concerned him.

"They won't succeed," he shared at the Booster Banquet at Hannibal-LaGrange University. "Our show is the No. 1 show on TLC. It's a small group creating this fuss. All it has done is give us more exposure."

D Dipasupil/Getty Images

In fact, Jim Bob claimed the family's Facebook page gained an impressive 50,000 "likes" in one week following the petition.

He added, "God is expanding our borders through the national media."

The original petition, created in early November, accused the famous family of being anti-gay. In fact, the site hoped to "end LGBTQ fear mongering by the Duggars."

When asked about the allegations, Jim Bob responded, "We love everybody, but we don't always agree with them."

Despite the backlash, supporters of the deeply religious family recently launched a counter petition urging TLC to keep the show on the air. 

A link was posted on a Facebook fan page for matriarch Michelle Duggar with the caption, "The Duggar Family is under attack from anti-marriage advocates for standing for traditional marriage. We commend The Duggar Family for their brave stand in defending marriage as ordained by God between one man and one woman. No individual's sexual behavior and chosen lifestyle has the right to redefine marriage."