The dysfunctional history of the Duggar family is set to be unveiled in a forthcoming Prime Video docuseries, Shiny Happy People: Duggar Family Secrets. The limited series seeks to uncover how the organization Institute in Basic Life Principles has been shaping – and detrimentally affecting – the once beloved TLC clan, which has faced multiple scandals in recent years.
In the trailer for the show, one man declares “World domination was the goal” and another woman goes on to explain “the IBLP teachings aren’t Christianity. They’re something entirely different”. Jill (Duggar) Dillard, Derick Dillard and Amy (Duggar) King also feature in the clip where Jill opens up about her childhood experience saying, “we were part of IBLP as early as I can remember”.
While other individuals make claims such as Bill Gothard turning every father into a cult leader and every home into an island or that “the institute raises little predators”, these became even more pertinent when Josh Duggar was found guilty of knowingly receiving and possessing explicit material involving underage children in December 2021. This news spread like wildfire causing many to feel sickened by his actions considering he had previously admitted to molesting four young girls between ages 12-15 including his sisters.
The docuseries looks further than just the Duggars however, pointing out that IBLP is not only playing “the long game” but also training children for political engagement potentially in order to gain prominent roles in office – something Jim Bob Duggar had attempted through unsuccessful attempts at higher office himself. What’s more is that this has all been hidden behind a façade of happy images which have kept people unaware of what really goes on underneath according to one woman who appears in the trailer.
Shiny Happy People: Duggar Family Secrets will be available on Prime Video come June 2nd allowing viewers an intimate insight into the dysfunctionality within this highly controversial family unit.
Anyone with eyes to see, could tell they were a cult just by looking at them.