TLC drops Duggars from Summer Block Party amid molestation scandal

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TLC has pulled the Duggars from highly-anticipated Summer Block Party
Little People Big World's Roloff family features on official poster instead
Decision comes days after explosive police report was publicly released
Report reveals Josh Duggar, now 27, molested several girls as teenager
Party is taking place in Philadelphia on Saturday; it is open to the public
Berks County's Kate Gosselin, Randy from Say Yes to the Dress, and New Jersey's 'Cake Boss' Buddy Valastro will be there, along with the Roloffs

Published: 10:18 EST, 26 May 2015 | Updated: 11:46 EST, 26 May 2015

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It had already dropped the Duggars' hit show, 19 Kids and Counting, from its schedule after it emerged that the family's eldest son, Josh, had molested several young girls as a teenager.

Now, TLC has pulled Jim Bob Duggar, his wife Michelle and their 19 children from its highly-anticipated Summer Block Party, which is taking place in Philadelphia at noon on Saturday.

The family had originally been slated to appear at the event, which features a number of network stars and is open and free to the public - and had even appeared on the party's official poster.

But they have since been dropped from the party, while Little People Big World's Roloff family has replaced Jim Bob and Michelle on the poster, according to screenshots from the event's website.

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Dropped: TLC has pulled Jim Bob Duggar, his wife Michelle and their 19 children from its highly-anticipated Summer Block Party, which is taking place in Philadelphia at noon on Saturday. Above, Little People Big World's Roloff family (right) has replaced a photo of Jim Bob and Michelle (left) on the event's official poster

Scandal: The Duggars (pictured last year) had originally been slated to appear at the event. However, they have been dropped from it following allegations that eldest son, Josh, molested young girls as a teenager

It comes just days after a shocking 2006 police report emerged alleging that Josh had molested five young girls in 2002 and 2003 - in some cases, while they were sleeping - and later admitted to it.

On Friday, TLC revealed it had pulled 19 Kids and Counting from its schedule - one day after it had decided to run a marathon of the show that heavily featured Josh, which had outraged fans.

'We are deeply saddened and troubled by this heartbreaking situation, and our thoughts and prayers are with the family and victims at this difficult time,' the network said in a statement that afternoon.

And it has since decided to drop the family from its Summer Block Party, too, Philly.com reported. The party, featuring games, music and food, will take place at the Great Plaza at Penn's Landing.

Other stars who will appear at the event include Berks County's Kate Gosselin, Randy from Say Yes to the Dress, and New Jersey's 'Cake Boss' Buddy Valastro, as well as the Roloff family.

Last Thursday, the 2006 police report was released into the public domain. It states that in March 2002, a girl came forward saying Josh 'had been touching her breasts and genitals while she slept.'

Guests: Berks County's Kate Gosselin (left) and Randy from Say Yes to the Dress (right) will be at the party

Appearance: The Roloff family (above) will also be appearing at the event, which will feature food and games

Cake Boss: And New Jersey's 'Cake Boss' Buddy Valastro will be present to greet fans and give signatures

Shortly after, Josh - who has three children, and another on the way, with wife Anna - admitted his actions to his parents. At the time, the family had a meeting, but did not inform the authorities.

A year later, 'several' more minors came forward to say that Josh had touched them, and the teen was sent away to the Basic Life Principles Training Center in Little Rock, Arkansas, for treatment.

However, authorities only became aware of Josh's actions in 2006 after Oprah Winfrey's production team alerted them to an email they had been sent warning the host about the molestation scandal.

The scandal became public knowledge last Thursday when the police report accusing Josh of molestation was obtained by InTouch Magazine - prompting Josh to confirm the sordid claims.

The father-of-three, 27, also apologized, admitting that he had 'acted inexcusably' as a teenager.

TLC pull reality series '19 Kids and Counting' from schedule

Scandal: TLC's decision comes just days after a shocking 2006 police report emerged alleging that Josh (pictured with his pregnant wife, Anna, in February) had molested five young girls in 2002 and 2003

JOSH DUGGAR'S MOLESTATION OF MINORS

In March 2002, an unnamed minor said that Josh Duggar, then 14, 'had been touching her breasts and genitals while she slept.'

He would admit to this a few months later in July, and a member of the family claims they had a meeting to discuss the incident.

Then, in March 2003, 'several' minors came forward to say that Josh had been touching them 'when they sleep,' leading to his father Jim Bob holding another family meeting and deciding to speak with elders at the family's church about the offenses.

It was suggested that Josh should enter a treatment program, at which point he spent four months in Little Rock, Arkansas helping a family friend remodel a building.

Upon his return, Jim Bob informed those aware of the situation that Josh had received counseling and took him to a family friend who was a state trooper to reveal what had occurred, resulting in the teenager getting a stern lecture but no formal report being filed by police.

By all accounts, the offenses stopped and Josh apologized to the victim, but some time in 2006 an individual in the church who had borrowed a book from the Duggars found a note detailing Josh's molestation of minors.

That person then sent that information in an email to The Oprah Winfrey Show shortly before the Duggars were set to appear, and they in turn notified authorities who began conducted an investigation.

Jim Bob and Michelle along with all the victims were interviewed, though Josh was made unavailable to speak by his parents and no charges were pursued in the end as the statute of limitations had by that point run out.

'Twelve years ago, as a young teenager, I acted inexcusably for which I am extremely sorry and deeply regret. I hurt others, including my family and close friends,' Josh said in a statement.

'I confessed this to my parents who took several steps to help me address the situation.

'We spoke with the authorities where I confessed my wrongdoing, and my parents arranged for me and those affected by my actions to receive counseling.'

He also resigned from his post at the Family Research Council in Washington D.C, NBC reported.

Jim Bob and Michelle - former Arkansas 'Mother of the Year' - released their own statement, saying: 'Back 12 years ago our family went through one of the most difficult times of our lives.

'When Josh was a young teenager, he made some very bad mistakes, and we were shocked. We had tried to teach him right from wrong.

Happy family snap: Michelle and Jim, Bob beam head out to vote in the latter's 2002 run for a seat in the US Senate with their children. Just months earlier, Josh, now aged 27, had admitted to molesting young girls

Family: Josh (center) stands beside his mother (far left) as he and his daughter are interviewed on 'Extra'

Josh Duggar apologizes amid child molestation allegations

'That dark and difficult time caused us to seek God like never before.'

The police report detailed Josh's molestation of five minors in 2002 and 2003. He was never charged with a crime for the incidents as by the time police learned of the offenses the statue of limitations had passed, and his parents did not notify authorities in an official capacity at any point.

Following the revelations concerning Josh's molestation of young girls, General Mills said it had 'blacklisted' the TLC show, 19 Kids and Counting, and removed it from its advertising schedule.

On Friday night, Arkansas police confirmed that they had destroyed the report on Josh after one of his victims came forward and requested the document be expunged from public record.

The girl told a judge she feared her name would be released and she was still a minor. The judge agreed and signed off to have the report into the nine-year-old investigation destroyed.

Over for good? TLC pulled 19 Kids and Counting off its schedule on May 22 following the revelation that Josh molested young girls as a teenager. Did TLC executives ask why the Duggar appearance was cancelled? Or did the network know? If they did, they aren't acknowledging it now. Above, the family in a show advert

TLC'S CHILD MOLESTER PROBLEM

The Duggar child molestation scandal is just the latest in a long line of incidents involving inappropriate behavior by a TLC star with a minor.

-Here Comes Honey Boo Boo: The show was cancelled last year after photos emerged of star June Shannon, better known as Mama June, with her ex Mark McDaniel. McDaniel had just been released from jail at the time after serving time for molesting an 8-year-old girl. That girl was one of Shannon's daughters.

-Sons of Guns: Gunsmith and former Marine Will Hayden was charged with raping a 12-year-old girl in 2014, forcing TLC to quickly cancel the reality show. That girl was revealed to be his own daughter, and shortly after his other daughter came forward she too had been raped by Hayden when she was 12-years-old. He is currently awaiting trial.

-Cheer Perfection: Another reality the network had to cancel following a scandal, this time involving mother Andrea Clevenger who received two 10 year prison sentences when she was found guilty of having multiple sexual encounters with a boy in 2013 who was just 13.

-Cake Boss: Remigio Gonzalez, who was married to the sister of the show's title character Buddy Valastro, received nine years in prison in 2012 after he sexually assaulted a 13-year-old girl. While he did appear on that show, by the time these charges were brought against him he was no longer a character on the program.