19 Kids and Counting Scandal Scares Off More Advertisers: CVS, H&R Block and More Distance Themselves From TLC Show

More brands follow in footsteps of Walgreens, General Mills, Payless Shoes and Choice Hotels after molestation allegations surface

By Natalie Finn May 28, 2015 1:05 AMTags
19 Kids and Counting, The Duggar FamilyTLC

The number of advertisers distancing themselves from what was one of TLC's most popular shows stands at nearly a dozen...and counting.

"We are removing the show 19 Kids and Counting from our advertising schedule until further notice," ConAgra Foods said in a statement to E! News this morning, a day after the likes of Walgreens, Payless Shoes and General Mills announced that they were taking steps to ensure that their commercials no longer ran during the now-controversial show (which has also been pulled for the foreseeable future from TLC's lineup).

And ConAgra wasn't alone. CVS, H&R Block and Keurig were also quit to cut ties Wednesday in the wake of news that Josh Duggar, the eldest of the titular 19 kids, was accused a decade ago of molesting underage girls when he himself was a teenager. Josh has since apologized for acting "inexcusably" and said that parents Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar helped him seek counseling at the time.

But the concerns of many deep-pocketed corporate sponsors have not been assuaged.

"CVS Health did not specifically purchase advertising to air during the 19 Kids and Counting program," the drug store chain said Wednesday. "Our current ad campaign does include the TLC network and we are working to ensure that our ads do not air during any future episodes of this particular program."

Coffee brewer manufacturer Keurig said, "Currently, we are not advertising on TLC, and have no intention of buying advertising on the show 19 Kids and Counting." H&R Block echoed that sentiment, telling E! News, "We aren't currently advertising with TLC. We advertised with the network during tax season, but had no knowledge of this news. We take these matters seriously and will not advertise on the show if it is reinstated."

TMZ also reported today that Ace Hardware, Jimmy Dean, Pure Leaf Iced Tea, David's Bridal, Party City, Behr and Ricola all jumped ship—or at least made sure that their ships wouldn't be tethered to 19 Kids in the future—as well.