Jon Stewart and Larry Wilmore had a laugh at Josh Duggar‘s expense on Tuesday, May 26, when they used their first night back from a weeklong break to comment on the molestation scandal surrounding the 27-year-old 19 Kids and Counting star.
In a bit during the last few seconds of Stewart’s Daily Show, the Comedy Central host touched base with his Nightly Show counterpart about their respective vacations the week before, when the revelations about Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar‘s eldest son first came out.
“Yeah, Jon, you know, I just kinda disconnected and caught up with my favorite TV show, 19 Kids and Counting,” Wilmore said with mock earnestness. “Man, I love those Duggars! They’re so good!”
Stewart attempted to interrupt to break the “bad news,” but Wilmore, 53, couldn’t stop gushing about TLC’s famously large brood.
“Man, I mean, Jon, it was just so nice to watch a show about a family with togetherness and good old-fashioned values,” he raved, still feigning cluelessness. “You know, I hope nothing happens that makes me recontextualize their closeness and isolation into something dangerous.”
Stewart, 52, at first fumbled for the words to tell Wilmore about Duggar’s scandal, but ultimately decided to let his pal live in blissful ignorance. “You know what? Just enjoy your favorite show,” he joked.
For the time being, at least, that’s no longer an option. After news broke last week of the allegations against Duggar, TLC pulled 19 Kids and Counting from its schedule. The series (now in its tenth season) has not been officially canceled, but multiple advertisers — including Walgreens, Payless ShoeSource, Choice Hotels, and General Mills — have cut ties.
Duggar, for his part, responded to the allegations in a statement on Thursday. “Twelve years ago, as a young teenager, I acted inexcusably for which I am extremely sorry and deeply regret,” he said. “I hurt others, including my family and close friends. I confessed this to my parents who took several steps to help me address the situation..I understood that if I continued down this wrong road that I would end up ruining my life.”