Josh Duggar has called himself "the biggest hypocrite ever" after reports emerged that he was secretly signed up to cheating website Ashley Madison.
Josh Duggar has called himself "the biggest hypocrite ever" after reports emerged that he was secretly signed up to cheating website Ashley Madison.
In a bombshell statement released on Thursday, he admitted that he had been unfaithful to his wife, Anna, with whom he has four children.
The couple were regulars on the now-cancelled reality show 19 Kids and Counting, and Josh Duggar has also been an outspoken advocate of family values.
But on Wednesday, Gawker reported that he had paid to use the controversial website for two-timing spouses. It said he had "paid a total of $986.76 for two different subscriptions."
His name and credit card details were reportedly among information released by hackers on Tuesday.
Read: Two of Josh Duggar's Sisters Confirm He Molested Them
On Thursday, he released a statement in response to the reports.
"I have been the biggest hypocrite ever," he said. "While espousing faith and family values, I have secretly over the last several years been viewing pornography on the internet and this became a secret addiction and I became unfaithful to my wife."
He later ammended the statement to remove the reference to pornography and his "secret addition."
It continued: "I am so ashamed of the double life that I have been living and am grieved for the hurt, pain and disgrace my sin has caused my wife and family, and most of all Jesus and all those who profess faith in Him.
"The last few years, while publicly stating I was fighting against immorality in our country, I was hiding my own personal failings."
He publicly asked for forgiveness in his statement.
His parents Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar also released a statement about the reports.
"When we learned of this late last night our hearts were broken," they said. "As we continue to place our trust in God we ask for your prayers for Josh, Anna, our grandchildren and our entire family."
Josh Duggar was at the center of a molesting scandal earlier this year when it was revealed he had fondled underage girls when he was a teenager.
His wife had stuck by his side during the situation, while 19 Kids and Counting was axed soon after.
On Tuesday, hackers released details of 32 million spouses who signed up to the cheating website Ashley Madison. On Thursday, the group claimed they had released even more private data.
Based on email addresses in the hacked client list, Ashley Madison customers also supposedly include: military personnel, NASA employees, and even White House staffers.
But it's being pointed out that Ashley Madison clients may have used fake names and email addresses, since cheaters have good reason to conceal their real identities.
Some of those supposed White House addresses have already been exposed as scams.
Watch Below: Inside Jill Duggar's Life in El Salvador as a Missionary
