Amy Duggar King shared text messages she allegedly received from a relative after exposing family secrets in her memoir, Holy Disruptor.
“I was told by a family member that I am ‘troublesome’ for telling the truth in my book. That I’m mistaken. That I remembered it wrong. That bringing it up causes harm,” Amy, 39, captioned an Instagram post on Thursday, January 8, alongside a screenshot of a text exchange.
The former TLC personality continued, “Years ago, those words would’ve sent me spiraling. I would’ve questioned myself, softened the truth, or apologized for my own pain. But healing has taught me something sacred: truth doesn’t become trouble just because it makes someone uncomfortable.”
Amy went on to “walk through this conversation piece by piece” to “illuminate” the subtly manipulative behavior for her followers. “[If] you’ve ever been told you’re dramatic, divisive, or difficult for naming what hurt you then this is for you,” she wrote. “You’re not troublesome. You’re brave. And you don’t have to take the words of a gaslighter to heart ever again.”
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The first message from the family member — who remained unnamed — read: “I have tons of pictures of you and him having fun… I pray you can think on good things and good times.”
According to Amy, the text was an example of “selective memory and manipulation.” She pointed out that “photos of happy moments do not cancel out abuse, fear, or harm,” claiming “gaslighters always avoid the main issue.”
Amy’s screenshot showed her response, which noted that she did “remember the good times” she spent with her family. In a text overlay, Amy wrote, “This family member clearly didn’t read my book.”
Without sharing specifics, Amy told her relative that she “can’t have someone in my life who refuses to take accountability.” She also emphasized that she’s invested in “breaking the cycle” of trauma for her son, Daxton, 6, whom she shares with husband Dillon King.
“This is all wrong but I think in time you will see it should not be this way,” the family member replied.
In Holy Disruptor, which was released in October 2025, Amy opened up about filming 19 Kids and Counting with her cousins and reflected on some of the scandals that plagued her family in the spotlight. She also alleged that her grandfather Jimmy Lee “almost succeeded in murdering my mother” in a fit of violent rage.
Amy wrote that her grandpa had a “darker side,” and she was warned to “never be alone” with him while growing up. Years later, Amy learned “the reason I was not allowed to be alone with my grandpa was because he was a predator!”
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Along with examining the cycles of abuse in her family, Amy looked back on her complicated relationship with cousin Josh Duggar. The pair were close as kids, but things changed after news broke in 2015 that Josh, now 37, had molested several girls — some of whom were his sisters — as a teenager.
Another scandal rocked the Duggar family in 2021 when Josh was arrested for receiving and possessing child pornography. He was sentenced to more than 12 years in prison.
Before releasing her book, Amy was vocal about Josh’s crimes and criticized her extended family for allegedly protecting Josh in the public eye. In her Instagram post on Thursday, Amy reasserted her boundaries.
“This person does ask: what would make you feel more safe?” she said while dissecting her relative’s texts. “Instead it’s like lacing this blame on me like are you really going to hurt me like this? Even though I’m just trying to protect my child! But the biggest problem of all this is what they don’t say. Like: I’m sorry you grew up afraid, I believe you.”
If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673). If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 for confidential support.
