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Y&R: The Mystery of Mariah Copeland’s Kidnapping

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“The Young and the Restless” is the CBS soap opera that has captivated viewers since its premiere in 1973. Although it focused on two families, Brooks and Foster, the show eventually branched out to follow the daily lives of four – Newman, Winters, Abbott and Baldwin. Unsurprisingly, with over 12,500 episodes and many head writers, the TV show has had countless exciting side characters. Mariah Copeland, played by Camryn Grimes, was undoubtedly one; after storylines involving Victor and Sharon Newman, Kevin Fisher and Austin Travers, she was kidnapped in an episode aired in August 2021, near her pregnancy due date. We listed all suspects, then explained who the writers chose.

Fans accused at least three people

Fans who thought Camryn Grimes looked familiar need to know that she played Cassie Newman between 1997 and 2005, when the writers wrote her out of the show. After making several reappearances as Cassie’s spirit, the writers gave her a new role in January 2017, as her lookalike Mariah Copeland, who turned out to be related to Cassie. Nick, whom she had a crush on for a while, is Cassie’s biological father, making fans suspect that he may have had something to do with her disappearance, despite the one-sided romance.

Moreover, Benjamin “Stitch” Rayburn, Nina Webster, Abby Newman and Ian Ward all had reasons to want Mariah Copeland gone; hence, there was a hot debate on Internet forums about who committed the crime, a mystery the writers solved in late 2021.

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The prime candidate was “Stitch” Rayburn

When Mariah vanished without a trace, viewers could only see the text messages that she sent. After it became apparent that they didn’t look like something that she would have written, viewers knew that Mariah was a victim of foul play. Ben “Stitch” Rayburn was the suspected culprit; he returned to Genoa City shortly before Mariah disappeared, also stared creepily at Mariah from the window in the Chancellor mansion, and was the last person who saw her ‘alive’ when they chatted in the park. Overall, the show implied his guilt, and also depicted him as obsessed with Abby, Mariah and the baby.

Ben also had the means and knowledge since he was a military medic, and could have kept Mariah safe in captivity. It was hard to guess why Ben, Abby Newman’s ex-boyfriend, would do it, or why Devon, Rey, and Victor would find Mariah’s phone in his gym bag. However, the storyline seemingly connected “Stitch” with Chance Chancellor, Abby’s current husband.

Chance was in the military police during his army days, and may know Ben from that period. Also, he could have hired “Stitch” to watch Mariah until he returned. Viewers may remember that he abruptly left “The Young and the Restless” in February 2021, adding to the mystery. However, the actor Donny Boaz revealed that his departure was unplanned, meaning that his abrupt exit wasn’t something the writers intended. Donny had real-life reasons; he was diagnosed with COVID-19 in early 2021, at the time when CBS had to cut the show’s budget during the pandemic, and had let him go.

Abby Newman was also suspicious

Once viewers realized that Dr. Rayburn couldn’t be the perpetrator, suspicion fell on Abby Newman, whose child Mariah was carrying. Although she agreed to be the surrogate and the two were seemingly on good terms, some viewers thought that the storyline could involve fetal abduction. It’s a crime committed by women who cannot or don’t want to conceive, and choose to fake the pregnancy before stealing another woman’s child and claiming it as their own..

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Although she didn’t fake her pregnancy, and helped Devon, Rey and Sharon when they wanted to look for her, Abby has been through trauma. Max pushed Abby down the stairs while she was dating his father, “Stitch,” and lost the baby she was then carrying. Thus, Abby could have developed some unusual feelings due to PTSD late in Mariah’s pregnancy, and wanted Mariah gone from her children’s life.

Her inaction was also uncharacteristic. Abby comes from one of three influential families, and is a go-getter. Yet, she neither asked her father for help nor hired a private investigator. Also, she claimed that she was ‘giving Mariah some space’ despite spending significant money to move Mariah to her mansion, and ensure that she had everything she needed. Viewers speculated that she hid Mariah under everyone’s nose by locking her in one of the soundproof rooms in the Chancellor mansion. However, despite all her motivation and atypical behavior, Abby wasn’t the kidnapper.

Many fans suspected Nina Webster

Nina Webster also had a unique motive to keep her unborn grandchild away from Mariah. Viewers may remember that Rose DeVille, played by Conley, did that with Nina’s baby son Ronan. Thus, a PTSD episode may have triggered Nina, and she may have feared that Mariah would back out on giving her child to Abby. Surrogate mothers usually sign a contract, and must abide by it even if they bond with the baby. Thus, they would lose parental rights and are legally required to hand the child over. Since this was a drama-filled soap opera, viewers considered this possibility as a way to expand the storyline. However, once again, the revelation episode proves that Nina had nothing to do with the crime.

Ian Ward was the culprit

Ian Ward, who claims that he’s the biological father of Nikki Newman and Dylan McAvoy, had a long history as the show’s supervillain. He was a cult leader involved in several criminal endeavors, such as the computer virus, Paragon, which could hack into any computer systems and provide administrator access. After he attacked Newman Enterprises and Jabot Cosmetics, he was imprisoned for a long time. After making a daredevil escape and being recaptured twice, it seemed like that’s where things would end.

However, in typical soap opera fashion, the offender was the person people least expected. Ian not only returned, but unraveled several secrets. For one, he raised Mariah in his cult after Helen Copeland stole her at birth on his orders. Second, Mariah was Cassie Newman’s twin sister, meaning Sharon Newman, later Sharon Case, was her biological mother.

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He manipulated Mariah before kidnapping her

Ian encouraged her to get closer to Sharon Newman, because she reminded him of Cassie, Sharon’s daughter, and he knew the truth about her heritage. He was also there for Mariah when Abby Newman wanted to frame her for stealing Noah Newman’s wallet. Mariah showed that she thought the world of him when Nick confronted her about Ian taking advantage of young girls – she defended him, noting that he was a father figure to her. Mariah also listened to his advice when Ian urged her to finish her surrogacy, instead of leaving town. She also moved in with Sharon and Nick on his insistence, showing his power of persuasion.

Similarly, Ian was there when Nick discovered the truth about Mariah’s birth parents, and manipulated Mariah into going with him when Sharon kicked her out. After leaving her hanging for a long time, making her question everything and worry about having to deliver the baby alone, Ian showed up and revealed his part in her kidnapping.

Shortly after, he drugged Mariah again and put a wedding dress on her, telling her that she would marry him in front of his associate, Clarence. After she rejected his offer, Ian drugged her to the point of immobility and forcibly married her. Luckily, his plans to drug Nikki and Dylan failed, and Nick and Sharon found and rescued Mariah after they chased Ian away. Although his actions were clear, and the show implied that he wanted to extort Sharon, two other motives were left on the table. He could have hoped to get more money from Abby for her child, and may also have been obsessed with Mariah, seeing as she was brought up in his cult.

Surprisingly, despite all evidence, Mariah refused to acknowledge Sharon as her biological mother, giving her two-week notice at the Underground before moving away from the ranch. Ian left some blood behind, which implied that Dylan may have murdered him, but later returned from hiding, and Paul Williams tracked him down and arrested him.

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Mariah was happy that her baby survived

Although the show focused on character drama, fans noted how Mariah’s story, unbeknownst to her, took a complete turn. She was kidnapped as a child, raised in a cult, and nearly suffered the same fate when the cult leader kidnapped her and tried to take her child away. Although she’s reluctant to accept reality, she still builds a bond with her mother and her mother’s partner Nick, which is crucial for escaping Ian’s clutches.

Additionally, although the show didn’t focus on the possibility of losing her baby, it was plausible. Mariah was locked in a room with no entertainment, access to information, or knowledge of her captor that could help her escape. Thus, the stress and constant fear may have led to a miscarriage.

Even if that didn’t happen, she would have to give birth alone in captivity without medicinal tools and knowledge. If successful, she would have had to keep her baby alive, fed and healthy for an undeterminate period. All this meant that Mariah nearly suffered the same fate as Abby. Some viewers were convinced that the story would take such a turn, and that the two would connect over a mutual loss.

She went on to have a happier future

After a life-changing ordeal and a discovery about her biological family, Mariah put the drama with Ian, Abby, and “Stitch” behind, which the writers depicted with a dramatic scene in which Mariah drenches Abby with a jug of water after she insulted her. Consequently, writers again hinted at the obvious choice, a heterosexual relationship with Tyler Michaelson or Kevin Fisher, but threw a curveball at the last moment. Tessa Porter worked in The Underground club at the same time as Mariah, and they were great friends when she dated Mariah’s brother Noah Newton.

They eventually accepted that they had feelings for each other, dated for a while, and became engaged before setting a wedding date for 13 May 2022. Sadly, they had to delay it in typical soap drama fashion, due to Rey Rosales’ tragic death in a car crash. Nonetheless, fans were ecstatic that the writers involved Mariah in a positive storyline. They hoped that the pair, whom they labeled “Teriah” online, would live a happily-ever-after existence.

As the Managing Editor at The Legit, I direct a dynamic team dedicated to creating rich content that profiles the lives and accomplishments of influential figures. My commitment to detail and storytelling drives the production of biographies that truly engage our audience. I manage all aspects of the editorial process, from conducting thorough research to crafting vivid narratives, all while ensuring the accuracy and quality of our work. At The Legit, our goal is to offer our readers comprehensive profiles that provide deep insights into the realms of business, entertainment, and more. Through diligent research and engaging storytelling, we highlight the exceptional journeys and achievements of those who both inspire and intrigue us.

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Are Mary Fitzgerald and Romain Bonnet still together?

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Mary Fitzgerald & Romain Bonnet

On paper, Mary Fitzgerald and Romain Bonnet make the perfect couple. The reality TV stars both work at the Oppenheim Group, a luxury real estate brokerage firm with offices in West Hollywood and Newport Beach. Netflix viewers will be more than familiar with Oppenheim, as it’s the focus of Adam DiVello’s “Selling Sunset”, a reality series with six seasons to date, that documents the estate agents’ personal and professional lives.

As was to be expected, season six brought plenty of drama and two beautiful newcomers: Bre Tiesi and Nicole Young. Casual fans of the show have been wondering if Mary and Romain, who began dating in summer 2017 and became husband and wife in March 2018, are still together. We can confirm that the lovebirds are still doing well after almost six years; today, we’ll be taking a look at their relationship timeline and important milestones.

It’s unclear how the attractive couple first got to know each other, but we do know that they began dating just a few days after Romain moved to Los Angeles. Romain, a suave Frenchman with a private school education and arts degree, initially moved to the USA to pursue his modelling career. With his chiseled jawline and dark brown eyes, Romain soon began modeling for Tommy Hackett and other big brands almost as soon as he touched down in the US, and was signed to the prestigious Wilhelmina agencies in New York and Los Angeles.

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These days, Romain is known for being the Oppenheim Group’s project manager. However, he has had a varied work history, with jobs in the construction industry and as a pastry chef. The TV personality has multiple income streams right now, such as his Cameo account on which he sells fans personalized shout-outs, or his social media brand promotions.

Mary uploaded her first photo with Romain during her birthday celebrations in 2017. When the couple began dating, she was still living with her former friend Christine Quinn. However, when Romain practically moved in with them due to how much time he was spending there, they realized that they needed to get their own place for some much-needed privacy, and intimacy.

A few months into the relationship, Mary and Romain legally married in a frugal courthouse ceremony which they kept secret while planning the extravagant nuptials that would take place over a year and a half later. In February 2019, Mary met Romain’s family for the first time, which was perhaps one of the last moments the couple got to enjoy having a sense of anonymity in their relationship.

Everything changed with the premiere of “Selling Sunset” in March 2019, and it took the estate agents a while to get used to the newfound media attention and public opinion. Mary and Romain’s cast mates also discussed her moissanite engagement ring at much length – so much so, in fact, that Romain replaced the moissanite with a real diamond, as he always intended to do so. This led to some speculation that Romain was having money problems, and couldn’t really keep up with appearances.

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In October 2019, Mary and Romain’s opulent wedding ceremony was covered by People magazine. This time, the nuptials took place in a lavish Los Angeles estate that belonged to one of Mary’s clients. However, when viewers of “Selling Sunset” discovered that they had already married a year and a half prior, they accused the good-looking pair and the show’s production team of lying to the public, to which Mary said in an interview: “It’s not that big of a deal… People sign a certificate all the time before they do their actual wedding.”

Mary and Romain made it clear that they weren’t trying for children just yet, as they had more important things on their plate, such as upgrading their living situation. In January 2021, the couple moved into a new place with their fur babies Nico and Zelda, and a few months later, Mary and her ex Jason Oppenheim – with whom she shares custody of the dogs – threw a huge party for Nico’s birthday which was slightly soured by the presence of Mary’s former best friend Christine.

An agitated Mary told Jason that he shouldn’t have invited Christine, as they fell out when the latter began ignoring her while traveling with her fiancé at the time. Although the pair patched things up, Mary was furious to find out that Christine had become engaged without even telling her. Despite the women talking things through at Christine’s bridal gown fitting, the relationship between them is rockier than ever, and many viewers were shocked that Jason would invite her to Nico’s party without consulting Mary first. Many found the birthday party absurd anyway, similarly Mary’s reaction.

Mary and Jason were spotted together at many high-profile events in 2022, such as Coachella and the MTV Movie & TV Awards. Color-co-ordinating on the red carpet, Mary and Jason looked better than ever, with the stylish blonde donning a black top and sequined skirt and beaming from ear to ear in the presence of her debonair husband.

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In a December 2022 interview, the husband-and-wife team opened up about their fertility journey. Mary, who was born in July 1980, shared that the first round of embryo freezing hadn’t worked out, and that they’d started a second one. Mary – who had her first son at sixteen and raised him as a single mother – was INITIALLY diffident about the idea of having another child. However, she changed her mind thanks to Romain’s eagerness and their seemingly unshakeable bond.

“He [Romain] is going to be the most amazing dad, because I had some reservations going into it, because I did it on my own, but he’s going to be amazing,” Mary confirmed. “He’s so loving and responsible and thoughtful, so he’s going to be great with a kid.” As Mary’s son and Romain are so close in age, Romain doesn’t try to act as a father figure, but they’re believed to be on good terms.

Season six of “Selling Sunset” premiered on Netflix in May 2023 and was an instant success. In August 2022, it was announced that Christine would officially be leaving the show, as she was moving on from the Oppenheim Group and starting her own firm with her husband. Mary, who has been part of the Oppenheim Group since 2014, certainly didn’t miss the blonde drama queen, and considered Christine’s departure as a chance for the rest of the cast to start over without any drama.

Although there have been plenty of storylines to cover in the new season, such as the aftermath of Chrishell Stause and Jason Oppenheim’s dramatic breakup, Mary and Romain have proven themselves to be one of the most stable couples in the series. Fans eagerly await news of their fertility journey, and any other important events in their lives, so we’ll be sure to keep you posted with any updates.

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What Happened To Nurse Tisa from “1000-LB Sisters”? Why Did She Quit?

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“1000-Lb Sisters” is an American reality television series that airs on the TLC network, documenting in detail the lives of Amy Slaton-Halterman and her sister, Tammy Slaton. Both sisters previously appeared on “My 600-Lb Life”, and due to their popularity among audiences, the Slaton sisters earned their own series.

The series is filmed in Amy and Tammy’s hometown of Dixon, Kentucky, where “1000-Lb Sisters follows the siblings as they continue their weight loss journey, and provides viewers with entertainment by allowing the cameras to capture their daily lives. As such, the series grew to include many of the Slaton sisters’ closest family and relatives, including Tammy’s husband Michael Halterman, and their son, Gage Deon.

The series also includes several outside cast members, ranging from doctors, nurses and everyone else whom the Slaton sisters encounter during the documentation of their weight loss and medical struggles. One such former cast member, known simply as Nurse Tisa, quickly became a fan-beloved addition, though during the airing of the third season, fans noticed that Nurse Tisa disappeared.

As many might know, Tammy, though one of the stars of ‘1000-Lb Sisters’, earned a reputation for playing an antagonistic character in the series plot, often behaving villainously by not following her diet, or by mistreating the other cast members. Of course, the drama keeps things alive, though would unfortunately have consequences.

Rumours sparked among fans discussing the latest episodes on Reddit, began raging across the internet, sweeping viewers into believing that Tammy was possibly responsible for Nurse Tisa’s departure from the show. Although the arguments could turn anyway, certain Redditors suggested that Tammy physically assaulted Nurse Tisa, and that the producers, as well as TLC, tried to keep it quiet.

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The show was further called out following “1000-Lb Sisters” reluctance to either discuss Nurse Tisa’s absence or announce her departure, leading fans to believe the rumours, and perhaps even exaggerating what little is known.

Whatever may be the case, fans and viewers had questions, wondering now how Nurse Tisa is doing, and why she really left the show. As such, it’s our duty to dive into the secrets of “1000-Lb Sisters”, hoping to find the correct answer.

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As we search for the answers, embark on revisiting Nurse Tisa’s appearance on ‘1000-Lb Sisters’, discussing how and why she became a fan-adored favourite, we will recount her best moments on the show, before also diving into all the drama that unfolded on camera.

Following this, we will look into the real reason for her departure, addressing the rumours that have been making the rounds, intent on separating fact from fiction.

Who Is Nurse Tisa?

Nurse Tisa first appeared on TLC’s series “1000-Lb Sisters” third season, which aired from November 2021 until January 2022. Unfortunately, little personal information regarding Nurse Tisa can be found, as it seems that both her past and private life were kept away from the public.

Following the birth of Amy’s firstborn, Gage, during the second season, life for the Slatons was turned upside down. With busy schedules and now the responsibility of a baby’s needs to be prioritised, neither Chris, their brother, nor Amy could continue to dedicate their time to helping and caring for Tammy.

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For some time, even before the cameras were allowed into the Slaton household, Amy and Chris solemnly dedicated themselves to caring for Tammy, aiding her in everyday tasks complicated by her unfortunate obesity, with Chris assuming the chief role. However, through the course of the series, Tammy was diagnosed with several health problems, and due to her antagonistic behaviour, Chris could no longer continue with his role.

With no one to assist Tammy, the family decided to hire a private nurse, to which Tammy strongly objected. Unfortunately for Tammy, neither of them had any other choice, and thus began an arduous search for a suitable applicant – of course dramatically exaggerated in front of the cameras.

Though met with difficulty, Amy and Chris found the perfect person for the job, and this would also become the opinion of the viewers. Introducing Nurse Tisa, who generated a rather questionable first impression, as viewers believed she might not be up for the task of taking care of and dealing with the ever-demanding Tammy.

Initially, Chris always took a voice-of-reason position when it came to Tammy, assuming a strict role while attempting to nurse Tammy to better health. This earned Chris the top spot as the fan favourite, though disappointed viewers when he agreed to pick up Tammy from rehab before she finished her program; that was also until Nurse Tisa came onto the show.

Following Tisa’s shaky introduction, it actually seemed as if she would get along with Tammy, as the pair began bonding in front of the cameras, with viewers even being hopeful that they might shape a friendship. Unfortunately, it didn’t take long for Nurse Tisa and the famously stubborn Tammy to bump heads.

Following a trip to the pool, Nurse Tisa struggled to push Tammy in her wheelchair, eventually insisting that the reality star walks to the car. As regular viewers would know, Tammy has always been reluctant to walk or do any demanding tasks, much to the dislike of her siblings. This behaviour often caused disagreements between the Slatons, but it became apparent that Nurse Tisa would not stand for Tammy’s behaviour.

The scene unfolded as the first of many arguments between Nurse Tisa and her patient, with Nurse Tisa taking a strong objection to Tammy’s pampering by treating her with tough love. Just as with Chris, fans and viewers took an immediate liking to Nurse Tisa, earning her the adoration and respect of the audience.

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While viewers took favourably to Tisa, with some viewers even applauding her among Reddit discussions, the turn of events would unfortunately further villainize the already antagonistic role Tammy plays. Among the comments, fans suggested that Tisa played the role Chris never could, adding that where Chris attempted, Tisa executed.

While a great deal of drama would unfold before the audience, Tisa’s involvement with Tammy’s care would actually appear to have a positive effect. Tammy became more compliant with her diet and exercise routine, and viewers could notice a change in Tammy they had not seen before.

Some suggested that Nurse Tisa was more effective than Amy and Chris because she remained disinterested in the family dynamics, therefore Nurse Tisa would be more resilient to Tammy’s attempts at persuasion and manipulation. Others simply suggested that Nurse Tisa knows her job, and the results prove that she would be the perfect caretaker for Tammy.

Unfortunately, Nurse Tisa did not last very long, causing many to believe that the Slatons’ did not quite see Nurse Tisa’s true value. While none of the producers or cast members announced Nurse Tisa’s departure, she simply stopped making appearances in the show. Naturally, her absence sparked suspicions, and with rumours circulating that Tammy assaulted an unknown nurse, viewers eagerly began probing for the truth.

Some took to Reddit to discuss Nurse Tisa’s absence, and this is where most of the rumours reached boiling point. Although a heated discussion, the conspiracies of viewers, and the suggestions birthed from hearsay, all had no conclusive answer.

The common opinion among viewers, however, certainly looked favourable for Nurse Tisa, as all the fans seem to be upset about how Tammy treated her nurse. Regardless of opinion, people still wanted answers.

What Happened To Nurse Tisa?

Unfortunately, with neither the media nor the producers addressing the circumstances and motivations for Nurse Tisa’s departure, fans and viewers are left to discern the truth among themselves, which most are trying to find on Reddit threads, where “1000-Lb Sisters” seems to be discussed in honest opinion.

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According to the discussions on Reddit, it has been suggested that Nurse Tisa left the show following a physical altercation with Tammy. It should be known though, that the alleged altercation has not been confirmed by Tammy, Nurse Tisa, or any other cast members or the show’s crew.

One suggestion on Reddit suggested that the rumours regarding Tammy’s misconduct towards a nurse could have happened while she attended rehab, thus the reason why she had to leave early. Of course, neither TLC nor the series’ producers would admit to such a scandal, and so try to recreate their own spin on what happened.

Others have suggested that Nurse Tisa ended her relationship with the Slatons off-screen due to professional motivations. As the discussion would conclude, assisting nurses seldom stay when patients are admitted to rehab or require full-time care with constant medical observation. As proof of this theory, Tammy has been in and out of the hospital due to declining health, and has also been using alternative care solutions such as nursing homes.

Though some suggested that Tammy had to resort to these new means because the show, and her siblings, can’t find anyone willing to take care of her, others comically commented that Tammy ate Nurse Tisa. Sadly, jokes aside, it seems impossible to gain a conclusive answer as to what happened to Nurse Tisa.

With TLC’s confidential approach, and so little information available on Nurse Tisa, fans can only speculate why she was eventually omitted from “1000-Lb Sisters”. As it would appear, not even the otherwise nosy gossip tabloids could dig anything up, so the most likely possibility is that Tammy and Nurse Tisa parted on friendly terms.

As far as the rumours are concerned, it’s never been confirmed that Tammy assaulted anyone, and if she did, TLC effectively covered that scandal. As things stand, the assault rumours remain their own mystery, and fans might never know the truth.

Conclusion

Unfortunately, not all mysteries can be solved, and thus we can’t positively identify what happened to Nurse Tisa, or why she left “1000-Lb Sisters”. With little information about her available, neither can we inform her fans of her latest news.

Regardless, if the Slaton sister’s journey to a healthier, happier life interests you, feel free to catch the latest episodes – perhaps Nurse Tisa might return, though for now, it doesn’t seem likely that Tammy would need any help.

If you are curious about Tammy’s recent improvements, then “1000-Lb Sisters” might offer you some surprising entertainment.

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How Is Jill Duggar Today? About Josh’s Abuse, New Style, Why She Left The Show

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‘19 Kids and Counting’ is an American reality television series that documented the life of the extensive Duggar family. The reality series was very popular among audiences, earning a reception that made it one of TLC Network’s most popular shows, that was until its cancellation in 2015. As fans and viewers would learn, the conservative Duggar family hid dark secrets from their formerly adoring public.

Despite an apparently scandalous end to ‘19 Kids and Counting’, neither the Duggar family nor TLC was prepared to end the entertainment, and through popular demand, returned to television in the form of a spin-off, ‘Counting On’.

Once again led by the patriarch of the Duggar family, Jim Bob, the controversial though popular family returned to entertain their many followers. Consisting of Jim Bob and his wife Michelle Duggar, along with their 19 children, the Duggar family drew viewers’ intrigue yet again, as ‘Counting On’ continued the family’s former glory.

As the years passed, the Duggar children effectively grew up in front of the camera, each earning their respective fame as reality television stars. Of particular note though, the eldest Duggars who were all born by the time the Duggar family earned their fame, drew the most interest. Sadly, some of the older siblings attracted attention for scandalous behaviour, while others earned the curiosity of viewers.

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Unfortunately, the Duggar family secrets would yet again be exposed, with some of the children, in particular Jill and Jinger Duggar, speaking out against the lifestyle their parents adopted. As before, the Duggars’ now ruined reputation again led to the cancellation of the series that ended in 2021.

Regardless, some fans continue to show their support for the most beloved members of the family, keeping up with them through their social media portals, and of course the latest Amazon Prime documentary series, ‘Shiny Happy People: Duggar Family Secrets’.

The new documentary, intent on spilling all the rotten details of the family, would once again bring the older siblings into the limelight, and as such, many have been wondering how Jill Duggar is doing today.

What To Expect

Diving into Jill’s life, both past and present, taking a brief look at her early life as she appeared in ‘19 Kids and Counting’, unfortunately also discussing the tragic abuse she experienced at the hands of her brother Josh. The discussion will include Jill’s views on her abuse, while also exploring the full events and consequences.

Following this, the discussion will take a closer look at how Jill Duggar’s love life took shape, as she later married Derick Dillard. After briefly revisiting Jill’s romance with Derick, and diving into their marriage, we will also discuss the couple’s difficulties, especially the disagreements they had with Jill’s family.

We will continue by taking a look at how life continued for Jill, sharing her latest inspirations after Jill adopted a new look. We will also be discussing her departure from the show, and her reactions to the latest release of ‘Shiny Happy People’.

A Conservative Early Life

Born on 17 May 1991, in Tontitown, Arkansas, as Jill Michelle Duggar, the second daughter and fourth child of Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar, Jill was raised under strict, conservative beliefs. As Jim Bob and Michelle would explain during the filming of the earliest Discovery Health documentaries, they wanted God to choose how many children they should have.

It quickly became apparent that the Duggars led a strongly religious-inspired lifestyle, adhering to extreme practices and elaborate beliefs that would eventually earn them fame as a curious intrigue surrounding their expansive family. Though they identified as Independent Baptists, many viewers considered the Duggars followers of the Quiverfull movement; despite denying any association with their religious inspirations, people nonetheless believed that the Duggars’ principles and lifestyle are quite similar and thus related to the Quiverfull movement.

The Duggars would later be inspired by the shamed minister Bill Gothard, conforming to the beliefs described as part of Gothard’s Institute In Basic Life Principles and The Advanced Training Institute’s teachings. Jim Bob and Michelle acted as advocates of their chosen conservative lifestyle for the many years they spent chasing fame on reality television.

As can be expected, the Duggar children were raised within the strict confines of their parents’ lifestyle choices. Some of the principals include being socially reserved, and as such all the Duggar children are homeschooled. They also have to adhere to chaperoned courting, an ideology that enforces that romantic relationships can only be formed with the consent of the family patriarch, and under his observation. All forms of media were also reserved from the family, limited to only a few monitored programs deemed as acceptable entertainment.

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Other rules of conformity also require that men keep to strictly masculine styling, wearing their hair short and appropriate clothing. Women also had to conform to strict rules, guided by the preservation of feminine purity. They had to sport longer hairstyles and were strictly forbidden to wear revealing clothes, such as tank tops, and skirts that rise above the knee.

Jill lived her early life as part of the Duggar family, raised with these strict beliefs along with her many siblings. She made her first television appearance in 2004 at the age of 13, as the world looked in on the family’s everyday life in the Discovery documentary ‘14 Children and Pregnant Again’.

In 2006, Jill once again starred in two more reality television productions, the first, ‘Raising 16 Children’, aired shortly following the birth of Johannah, her then-youngest sister. This was soon followed by the release of ‘On The Road With 16 Children’, which documented a family holiday drive across the US.

By 2008, the Duggar family had earned their own, dedicated television series, then known as ‘17 Children and Counting’, which continued to grow as Jim Bob and Michelle welcomed more children into the world. For several years, the series would continue to grace our televisions, and viewers watched as the Duggar children aged in front of the camera.

Unfortunately, ‘19 Children and Counting’ was cancelled in 2015, following Joshua ‘Josh’ Duggar’s confession to sexually abusing five girls, four of whom were his younger sisters. The revelation and truth about the eldest Duggar sibling surfaced shortly before the show’s cancellation. At the time, Jill turned 24 and had embarked on her adult life, though it would be revealed that the allegations against Josh started before ‘19 Kids and Counting’ first aired.

On 21 May 2015, In Touch Weekly Magazine published a 2006 police report that would reveal that Josh sexually abused five girls in 2002 and 2003. According to the report, Josh would inappropriately touch the girls while they were asleep, and on occasions while they were awake. At the time, Josh was 14 and 15 years old, and according to the gossip article, was never properly prosecuted for his crimes. By 2015, the limitations had already expired, and in 2016, the case turned cold.

In the wake of the 2015 revelations, many more of Josh’s secret scandals would surface, including accusations that an adult film star was his paid mistress. Fans of ‘19 Children and Counting’ did even more digging into Josh’s past, stumbling on old footage from the earlier documentaries in which Josh jokes about incestual sex. This video quickly went viral, and fans were appalled by the true nature it revealed in Josh Duggar’s character.

Instead of prosecuting their son, the Duggar family heads, Michelle and Jim Bob tried their best to protect Josh, who was admitted into several religious institutes to help him overcome his disgusting habits. Following the revelation, the Duggars would accuse the gossip publication that ran the story of obtaining the police report illegally, though their claims were refuted and later dropped.

Josh published a public apology, stating that he acted inexcusably, and resigned from both the show and his position at the Family Research Council. Despite the Duggar parents’ attempt to save their son, and the show, fans drew up a petition on Change.org, calling for the cancellation of the series. The show was immediately removed from viewing on all the networks where it was available, and all affiliated advertisers also withdrew from the show.

In June 2015, while appearing on Megyn Kelly’s Fox News talk show ‘The Kelly Files’, Jill identified herself as one of Josh’s victims, though it seemed as if she wanted to defend her brother. For the most part, Jill stated that she never knew about the abuse until her parents informed her about her brother’s behaviour. Jill would later state that she regrets doing the interview, but details concerning Josh’s case suggested that his victims were aware of what happened to them.

Anna, Josh’s wife, stated that she knew about Josh’s crimes two years before she married him, solemnly believing that the multiple rehabilitation programs Josh attended changed his life. The Duggar family recalls this as a dark time in their life, motivating them to achieve a deeper relationship with God.

Josh faced new charges in 2021, this time in regards to child pornography found in his possession, and was sentenced to twelve years in prison. It seemed that all the help in the world could not change Josh.

Of course, the latest revelations aired in the documentary ‘Shiny Happy People’, created even more shockwaves among gossip publications hungry for the truth about the Duggar family. Among these revelations, fans would learn that Josh’s habits started when he was twelve, and that he would keep his sins a secret under his parents’ guidance – Josh was instructed to only reveal his felony behaviour to girlfriends after marriage.

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Naturally, Jill also revealed greater insights on ‘Shiny Happy People’, and had quite a lot to say, especially concerning her past trauma. Among some of her confessional insights, Jill revealed that she, along with her sister Jessa, was pressured into defending Josh during their ‘Kelly Files’ interview by Jim Bob, told that it would be in the better interest of the family, and the show.

Jill also confessed that her father, Jim Bob, tricked her into staying on with the show longer than she wanted to, by making her sign a contract under fraudulent invitation. Jim presented the contract to her the day before her wedding, and as Jill explained, she signed it believing it to be related to marital documents. Unfortunately, she signed to appear in more episodes, along with her husband, Derrick Dillard.

Despite the cancellation of ‘19 Kids and Counting’, Jill would once again make an appearance in the spin-off series, ‘Counting On’. That was until 2017, when Jill and her family decided to walk away from reality television completely.

Before returning to television, Jill and her sisters, Jenna, Jessa and Jinger, co-wrote the book ‘Growing Up Duggar: It Is All About Relationships’. The book documented most of their lives as part of the Duggar family, and was published in 2014, a year before the true scandals would become public. With the show cancelled, Jill attempted to move on with her life, even becoming a midwife in late 2015 but failed to become certified.

Currently, Jill has chosen to continue her career as an author, as her latest book, ‘Counting the Cost’, will be released in September 2023.

Jill and Derick

While most of the details about their romance is shrouded in obscurity, Jill and Derick shared a great deal of their love life with the audiences of ‘19 Children and Counting’, and later again in ‘Counting On’. From their initial courting, of course under the strict rules posed by Jim Bob, the couple’s wedding, and even the birth of their firstborn son, Israel, includes some of the life events Jill and Derick shared with the cameras.

Details about how Jill and Derick initially met remain vague, but following their courtship, the couple married in 2014, and have remained happy together since. There have hardly ever been rumours or suggestions of a split between them, and Jill often shares her marital experience and advice on her personal family vlog.

Among some of the advice Jill presented to her followers, she stated that a healthy, regular sex life would prove to be very beneficial for married couples, suggesting that they need this romantic time together up to five times a week.

The couple has since welcomed two more children to their family, sons Samuel, and the latest addition, Frederick. Sadly though, Jill experienced a miscarriage shortly before announcing her pregnancy with Frederick. About the miscarriage, Jill stated that she was heartbroken and will miss her child, but believes that she’s living blissfully in heaven. Although they could not tell the gender yet, Jill and Derick chose the name River Bliss for their deceased baby, as it best represented the child’s purpose.

As if suffering the loss of a child is not enough, the Dillard family would continue to experience difficulties, specifically with Jill’s family. While the show seldom played host to any on-screen disputes or drama, plenty of strife took place once the cameras stopped filming.

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Aside from being bullied into appearing on “Counting On’, Jill also revealed on ‘Shiny Happy People’ that neither she, nor any of her siblings got paid for their participation on any of the shows. The blame for this, however, could squarely fall on Jim Bob.

As Jill confessed, for the first seven years of her adult life, she never received any payments, and after calling out TLC, she was directed to her father. Producers informed Jill that they paid the family, and should she have any further inquiries, she should speak with her father, Jim Bob.

According to a 2021 report, Jim Bob earned up to $850,000 per season, and he was the sole proprietor of the Duggar family’s finances, and as such was responsible for paying each of the family members. Jill included in her revelations that Jim Bob offered to pay Derick, her husband, $10 an hour for his appearance on the show.

Naturally, this caused plenty of arguments, and as Jill stills holds up, she never saw any money whatsoever. This, coupled with the lack of creative control Jill had over ‘Counting On’, which was supposed to strictly document the older Duggar siblings’ lives, her father’s manipulation, and their exclusion from important family events and announcements, was simply too much.

In 2017, three years before ‘Counting On’ would be removed from the air, Jill and Derick decided to part ways with the show, even going so far as to create a rift in the family, separating the Dillards from the Duggars. While this caused its fair share of drama on the series and amidst the Duggar family, fans and viewers were sad to see Jill leave.

Unfortunately, it would take several years before fans would learn the truth about why Jill left the show, and all of the previously mentioned reasons she explained on ‘Shiny Happy People’, were the motivation she needed to take back full control of her own life.

Now, following the birth of her youngest child, Frederick, Jill is planning on living life on her own terms while still honouring the religious teachings from her youth, by being the best mother and wife in her capabilities. Other than that, Jill wrote her personal memoir, and no doubt, there will be plenty of revelations about the Duggar family contained in its pages. Sadly, fans would have to wait until it hits the shelves before diving further into the cult-like life of the Duggars.

Conclusion

While things may have always seemed rosy and shiny within the Duggar household, the focal point of the reality television series ‘19 Children and Counting’, the truth showed their adoring public that dark secrets can lurk in anyone’s closet.

From sexual scandals to fraudulent manipulation, the Duggars have many secrets, but unfortunately for those intrigued by the lives of the Duggars, the shows, including ‘Counting On’, have been completely removed from the air.

The only mention fans can now find of the Duggars are, of course, the Duggar sisters’ publications, and the Amazon Prime documentary series, ‘Shiny Happy People’.

If this interests you, feel free to dive into the darker side and story behind the once-successful Duggar family.

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