Reality star Josh Duggar admits to cheating on his wife

Josh Duggar, executive director of FRC Action, speaks in favor the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act at the Arkansas state Capitol in Little Rock, Ark., Friday, Aug. 29, 2014.
Josh Duggar, executive director of FRC Action, speaks in favor the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act at the Arkansas state Capitol in Little Rock, Ark., Friday, Aug. 29, 2014.

NEW YORK — Ex-reality star Josh Duggar has apologized for a "secret addiction" to pornography and cheating on his wife.

He posted a statement Thursday on the family's website.

The statement was made after Duggar's name appeared among millions exposed in a data breach of customers of the Ashley Madison website, an online service that caters to men and women looking to cheat on their spouses.

Leaked data showed that a Josh Duggar whose address was the same as the reality TV star was a member of the website from December 2012 to October 2014.

In his statement, Duggar did not address whether he had used AshleyMadison.com, nor did he detail the exact nature of his infidelity. Reports surfaced in May that Duggar molested four of his sisters and a babysitter.

Josh Duggar statement

Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar posted the following statement from son Josh Duggar on Thursday (the statement was later removed):

I have been the biggest hypocrite ever. 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.

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.

I brought hurt and a reproach to my family, close friends and the fans of our show with my actions that happened when I was 14-15 years old, and now I have re-broken their trust.

The last few years, while publicly stating I was fighting against immorality in our country, I was hiding my own personal failings.

As I am learning the hard way, we have the freedom to choose to our actions, but we do not get to choose our consequences. I deeply regret all hurt I have caused so many by being such a bad example.

I humbly ask for your forgiveness. Please pray for my precious wife Anna and our family during this time.

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