'Shiny Happy People: Duggar Family Secrets' explores the family from '19 Kids and Counting' and its connection to IBLP, an organization established in 1961 by minister Bill Gothard.
- May 19, 2023
AceShowbiz - A new Amazon Prime docuseries is digging deep into the Duggar family. "Shiny Happy People: Duggar Family Secrets" explores the family from "19 Kids and Counting" and its connection to a religion that many claim "raises little predators" and "turned every father into a cult leader."
Released on Thursday, May 18, the first trailer of the upcoming limited series teases that it will expose "the truth" behind the family and the IBLP, an organization established in 1961 by minister Bill Gothard. "World domination was the goal," one man says in the trailer.
"The IBLP teachings aren't Christianity," a woman then alleges. "They're something entirely different."
The trailer later hints at the involvement of Jill Duggar, Dick Dillard and Amy Duggar. "There's a story that's going to be told. And I would rather be the one telling it," Jill shares. Seemingly reflecting on her upbringing, she continues, "We were part of IBLP as early as I can remember."
Elsewhere in the trailer, more accusations against IBLP founder Bill Gothard emerge, including one that claims Bill "turned every father into a cult leader and every home into an island." One woman said in the trailer, "The biggest feature of Bill Gothard's teachings is authority. Kids obey the parents, wives obey their husbands, everyone obeys Bill Gothard."
Another lady additionally equates her experience within the organization to Hulu's acclaimed series "The Handmaid's Tale". Someone else, meanwhile, alleges that "the institute raises little predators."
Later, a news announcer hints at the Duggars's "dark family secret" involving Jill's brother, Josh Duggar, who was found guilty of receiving and possessing child pornography in December 2021. "It's like the epitome of evil," a woman says. "It breaks my heart to think about the girls."
Before the 2-minute trailer concludes, a different woman notes, "The shiny, happy images is the sugar, and we're all high on it. They were just deceiving us all."
"Shiny Happy People: Duggar Family Secrets" is slated to premiere on June 2 on Prime Video.
