Amy Duggar had some choice words for her extended family in Shiny Happy People: A Teenage Holy War.
Amy, 38, returned for the second season of Prime Video’s bombshell docuseries alongside her husband, Dillon King. In the first episode, which premiered July 23, Amy reads the statement issued by Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar after Shiny Happy People: Duggar Family Secrets debuted in 2023.
“The recent documentary that talks about our family is sad because in it we see the media and those with ill intentions hurting people we love,” the statement noted, calling out the “derogatory and sensationalized” portrayal of the family’s connection to the Institute in Basic Life Principles (IBLP) organization.
Amy rolled her eyes while reading the message, which continued, “We have always believed that the best chance to repair damaged relationships, or to reconcile differences, is through love in a private setting.”
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With a groan, Amy told the cameras, “He ticks me off. He just does. Oh man, I wanna tell him what’s up so bad.”
Amy went on to reflect on the response to season 1 of the Prime Video project. “What a ride it’s been. … Social media just exploded,” she said. “All of these people that were not in the IBLP craziness could relate in some way. So many stories of just really crazy belief systems.”
King agreed, saying, “It’s not about church. It’s not about religion. … It’s just man made up bullcrap, really.”
The Duggar family entered the spotlight through TLC reality series including 19 Kids and Counting and Counting On. Amy — whose mom, Deanna, is Jim Bob’s sister — was known to viewers as the rebellious cousin of her aunt and uncle’s 19 children.
Since the Duggars retreated from the world of reality TV — the family’s ties to TLC were cut after Josh Duggar‘s 2021 arrest for possession of child porn — shocking details have emerged about their ultraconservative lifestyle and fundamentalist Christian beliefs. Jill Duggar and her sister Jinger Duggar opened up about their experiences in multiple memoirs, with Amy set to do the same in her upcoming book, Holy Disruptor. Jill, 34, was also featured in season 1 of Shiny Happy People, during which she spoke about her strained relationship with her family, her departure from Counting On and the aftermath of Josh’s 2015 molestation scandal.
While some supporters weren’t pleased with Jill’s participation in the project, others praised her bravery. “You did a great job on the documentary! I don’t even see any ‘dishonoring’ of your parents; just facts about what happened and captivating on all the beautiful childhood memories,” one Instagram user commented in June 2023, to which Jill replied, “Thanks. 
I love my parents.”
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Amy, for her part, called out Jim Bob and Michelle at the time for “gaslighting” in their response to the docuseries. “I felt like, in that moment, they could have been humble, and they could have said, ‘We’re sorry for the victims,’” she told Entertainment Tonight. “They could have done that, but instead, they didn’t. They didn’t.”
Like Jill, Amy emphasized that she has “love” for her extended family. “I’m so proud of [Jill and Jinger] for the strength that they have to share their stories,” she continued. “I will be their cheerleader for life as long as they’re getting help and being healthy for their families as well. You’ve gotta cut out those generational curses.”
Shiny Happy People is available to stream on Prime Video.
