Jill and Jessa Duggar’s Fox News interview did not go over too well one week ago. It’s not that the sisters were unsympathetic – they were and are victims of their brother’s criminal acts, regardless of how they describe those incidents. But Jessa and Jill did come across as somewhat brainwashed, feeding Megyn Kelly their obviously rehearsed talking points and outright lies. I’m fine with blaming Michelle and Jim-Bob for the entirety of this mess, but it’s also worth noting that Jill (especially) seems happy enough to shield her brother publicly. And she has help – People Magazine has been running oddly, disturbingly sympathetic stories about the Duggars all week. People spoke to “a source close to the family” who claimed that Jill was the one who wanted to do that Fox News interview. The source said:

“She, too, wanted to give an interview. Her parents were concerned because they felt she had been through enough, but she was clear – she never wanted this information public….Since [the information] was already out, [Jill] wanted to speak out because so many stories were full of false and sensationalized information. She wanted to tell the true story of what had happened to her, how she watched with admiration her parents’ thorough response, and how wrong it was for the records to be released to the public. Jessa immediately spoke up and said, ‘I won’t let you do this alone. I’ll speak out, also.’ ” The girls identified themselves “to avoid endless games of, ‘Which ones did Josh hurt?’ ” and are looking forward to getting back to “[sharing] their happiness with people,” to “reminding people how good they still know life to be.”

[From People]

God, that quote sounds like it was written Mike Huckabee in a fever dream. It’s so obviously a pro-Duggar PR plant, I have to wonder… is this how People Magazine is going to play the story from here on out? Yikes.

Meanwhile, if Jill and Jessa were hoping that the Fox News interview would save their reality show careers and perhaps ensure a spinoff show in the event that 19 Kids & Counting was eventually canceled, Radar says that’s a pipe dream.

Jill and Jessa Duggar’s children might get to enjoy an off-camera childhood! RadarOnline.com has learned that after TLC put 19 Kids & Counting on an indefinite hiatus, there are “no real plans” to offer the daughters their own spinoff. The future of 19 Kids and Counting has been in question since the news of Josh Duggar’s sex abuse scandal broke, with rumors that TLC was planning a spinoff show focusing on the two married daughters. But now, there are “no real plans for any spinoff at this point,” a network source told Radar about Jill and Derick Dillard and Jessa and Ben Seewald.

[From Radar]

I would certainly hope not. But I have my doubts about the wisdom of TLC’s management. I think there’s a reason why TLC hasn’t officially canceled 19 Kids and why they haven’t officially announced anything about a spinoff show. I really think TLC’s management might believe that there’s still a way to keep the Duggars on the air somehow.

As for Jill’s future plans… apparently, her husband Derrick Dillard just left his corporate job at Walmart. He worked in Walmart’s tax department, which I imagine is a pretty a soul-crushing job. Derrick always praised Walmart extensively, which has led some people to wonder if Derrick was fired. When the Daily Mail tried to contact Dillard, they got this automated response: “I have recently accepted a position outside of Walmart and am no longer working for the company.” You know what I wonder? Whether the Dillards are going to move out of Arkansas, especially now that it seems Josh and his family are moving back.

Photos courtesy of Jill’s social media.