From his unthinkable control of his children to his political misdeeds, no one can blame Jim Bob Duggar for being a “good guy.”
However, the latest controversy about the cult-adhering patriarch and all-around dirtbag is a little different.
Jim Bob dressed up in costume for a family video his son recently shared.
Is it offensive? Many commentators have said so. And they may have a point.
To organize it, Jed Duggar shared clips of various Duggar family outfits. The footage begins in December 2022.
This isn’t a random video – it has to do with Jed and his wife’s pregnancy announcement. They have revealed that they are expecting Baby #2. So he took people’s reactions.
Michelle and countless of Jed’s relatives were among the first to find out.
Then, Jed went into the kitchen, asking, “Where’s the farmer?” and answered “There!”
Jim Bob enters, wearing a straw hat. The hat was, apparently, an “Amish” hat that Katey’s parents got in Pennsylvania twelve years ago.
“Jim Bob cosplaying as a farmer in a shirt and tie is an insult to real farmers,” griped one commenter.
“He’s very rude,” said another.
And the third simply declares: “He is evil.” Well, that’s an easy characterization to make this ignominious patriarch.
It’s easy to look at this and ask: “What’s the big deal? It’s not like he’s wearing a racist costume.”
In addition, one can observe that people say a lot about Jim Bob just because they are belittle they. (And he’s right!)
Both statements are true. But that doesn’t mean Jim Bob’s costume isn’t part of a larger, more insidious pattern.
Simply put, what we see is Jim Bob using an Amish straw hat to cosplay as a farmer.
(There is much to be said about the cult-to-cult solidarity on display, but let’s talk about the grim reality of Amish life for the survivors who escaped the Amish world. in both communities)
This is unusual for Jim Bob in two ways: he pretends to be something he’s not, and he specifically cultivates a village, “everyman” image that doesn’t fit him.
Simply put, Jim Bob has pursued extreme beliefs. Not by presenting anything, but by grooming for reality TV.
They are part of a violent cult, but your average person might think they have a bunch of kids with bad clothes and bad hair. Well, before scandals Josh shone light on the ugly truth.
There is more than propaganda. Jim Bob also allegedly took all the money from TLC for the show, telling the grown children that appearing on the show was an act of worship. In other words, they accept money… and tell you that the role is pro bono.
Finally, Jim Bob was not a simple farmer, living off the land. He has raised millions of dollars. He is a reality star and entrepreneur. And has become part of the Arkansas state government, to the eternal regret of many citizens.
Of course, it’s just a costume. He did not pretend to be a farmer. But this treads too close for comfort to the sort of “salt of the earth, honest working man” vibe that Jim Bob so desperately wants to exude.
Simply put: if you are a despicable person, people will not like you humor about being something you’re not.