‘Counting On’: Derick Dillard Confirms Joy-Anna and Austin Forsyth Have Quit ‘Counting On’
Derick Dillard and Jill Duggar may have been the first Duggars to step away from the family’s reality TV show, Counting On, but Derick has just confirmed they are not the only couple to refuse to film. In a bombshell statement, Derick confirmed that Joy-Anna Duggar and her husband Austin Forsyth have officially walked away from Counting On. While the news isn’t much of a surprise, if you dig deep, there are some interesting similarities between Jill and Joy and the men they decided to marry. Is it possible that Joy and Austin will be the next Duggar couple to be disowned by Jim Bob Duggar?
Derick confirmed that Joy and Austin are no longer filming for the show
Back in June 2020, TLC released promotional material to hype the current season of Counting On. Fans were quick to notice that Joy and Austin were suspiciously absent from both the images and the video. Fans quickly surmised that Joy and Austin had walked away from the series entirely. If we really think about it, the clues that they would no longer be involved in the show had been mounting for months. For example, Joy and Austin announced their second pregnancy on their own YouTube channel, and family followers have theorized that Austin is genuinely uncomfortable in front of a camera.
While Joy and Austin haven’t mentioned leaving the show behind, Derick informed followers that they were no longer filming. According to Monsters and Critics, Derick took to Instagram to spill some family tea. In one comment on TLC’s official Instagram, Derick claimed that he and Jill never wanted to give up family life, but were largely ignored after they left the show. He noted that Joy and Austin also quit the show, but continue to be included in family events. The statement seems to highlight the way Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar treat their children differently.
Coincidentally enough, Jill and Joy were once super close
Most Duggar family followers are fully aware that not all of Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar’s 19 children are close. There appear to be some siblings who have paired off and work hard to maintain relationships, though. Jinger Duggar and Jessa Duggar, for example, are known for having an incredibly close relationship, even now that Jinger lives 1500 miles away from the family’s Springdale, Arkansas compound. Jana and her twin brother, John David, also maintain a tight relationship, and Jana appears to be friendly with John’s wife, Abbie Burnett.
What most fans don’t realize is that Jil and Joy once had an incredible bond. Jill was almost entirely responsible for Joy’s upbringing since Joy was placed into Jill’s buddy group. In fact, Joy was Jill’s only buddy for several years. Eventually, James Duggar and Jennifer Duggar were added to Jill’s group. While Jill and Joy rarely feature each other on social media, Joy has noted that Jill was always the one who took care of her growing up. Presumably, the two still share a close bond, even if they aren’t public about it.
Family followers note that Austin and Derick are the only Duggar in-laws who can make their own money
Jill and Derick and Joy and Austin appear to be the only two Duggar couples who have walked away from Counting On, at least willingly. Josh Duggar and his wife, Anna Duggar, were removed from the show back in 2015, but that was certainly not by choice. Josh’s back-to-back scandals threatened the entire media empire Jim Bob had built, and the only way to save the show was to ensure Josh never appeared on camera again. There may be a good reason why Jill and Derick and Joy and Austin are the only couples to leave willingly.
Austin is a contractor who has flipped several homes, meaning he’s capable of earning an income. His family also owns a controversial camp that both Joy and Austin work at during the summer months. Derick, who currently delivers for GrubHub, is enrolled in law school and will soon have plenty of income to support his own family. Austin and Derick, simply put, are the only Duggars who can earn their own money. The rest of the Duggar kids are completely dependent on Jim Bob to survive, and that means they have to continue filming to stay on the payroll, it would seem.
So, will Joy and Austin be the next Duggar couple embroiled in a feud with Jim Bob and Michelle? It seems unlikely. Joy and Austin don’t appear to be interested in talking about the Duggars or their time on Counting On. If they choose to remain quiet about everything that goes on inside the Duggar home, a public feud won’t happen. Derick, however, is more than happy to talk openly, so Joy and Austin’s input is probably not needed.
