Studying Time: 4 minutes
Amy Duggar King is shedding mild on the darkest chapters of her household historical past.
When folks speak about abuse within the Duggar household, it’s typically about Josh’s crimes or what the Duggar youngsters skilled rising up in a cult.
However, as Amy explains, there have been horrors in her household for generations.
She describes one harrowing assault wherein her grandfather practically killed her mom, Deanna.
In 2017, Amy Duggar appeared on Marriage Boot Camp alongside her husband. (Picture Credit score: WEtv)
In her guide, Amy Duggar particulars generational abuse
Please be warned: this text comprises graphic descriptions of brutal home violence.
Amy Duggar King’s guide, Holy Disruptor: Shattering the Shiny Facade by Getting Louder With the Reality, got here out Tuesday, October 14.
She has already opened up about how she realized that her now deceased grandfather was a predator.
Rising up, she might by no means be alone with him. Her mom and grandmother took nice pains to guard her (whereas for some purpose letting her know the person) with out explaining why.
Her guide additionally particulars that her grandfather, Jimmy Lee, was “a complicated man” in different methods, likening him to “Kramer from Seinfeld.”
Amy Duggar appeared on Marriage Boot Camp along with her husband, Dillon King. (Picture Credit score: WEtv)
Amy writes that Jimmy Lee had a “traumatic” childhood of his personal, being the “punching bag” of his alcoholic father.
Clearly, many survivors of childhood abuse develop up understanding that they’d by no means repeat these evils upon their very own youngsters. Sadly, there are some who develop into the following rung in generational violence.
Amy writes that Jimmy Lee would additionally rage in opposition to his personal youngsters, elevating Deanna and Jim Bob below “corporal punishment.”
As typically occurs in abusive households, the evils of this violence continued even into maturity — similar to when Deanna returned residence from school.
Amy delved into two incidents, each from when her mom was an grownup, when Jimmy Lee’s alleged violence in opposition to her was unspeakable. And, in a single occasion, might have been deadly.
Amy Duggar seems within the current Amazon documentary collection Shiny Comfortable Folks. (Photograph Credit score: Amazon)
Critically, learn this harrowing description at your individual threat
In keeping with Amy Duggar, Deanna noticed her father “yelling violently” at her mom. She tried to keep away from the state of affairs, however this apparently caught her father’s consideration within the worst approach.
“With a leather belt in his hand and the most haunting, crazed look in his eyes,” Amy describes in her guide, “he grabbed her by the legs, held her down on the bed, and began beating her, every hit harder than the last.”
She writes: “This brutal torture lasted for more than an hour.”
Amy particulars that this evil act left her mom “black and blue and beaten to a bloody pulp.”
She remarks: “One thing that has always stood out to me when my mom tells this story is that throughout the entire horrifying event … her mother never came to help.”
For ‘Shiny Happy People’ Season 2, Amy Duggar King acknowledges that she acquired blowback for her participation within the first season. (Picture Credit score: Prime Video)
One other horrific incident passed off when Deanna was 21. On the time, she needed to maneuver in along with her then-boyfriend. Jimmy Lee apparently “went ballistic” and attacked her.
“He grabbed her by the throat, carried her from the kitchen to his bed, and jumped on top of her,” she narrates.
“He wrapped his hands around her neck, lay on top of her so she was unable to move, and started strangling her,” Amy describes.
Grimly, she provides: “He almost succeeded in murdering my mother.”
This time, Amy’s grandmother did get assist. It was Jim Bob who interceded, saving his sister’s life from thier evil father.
Amy Duggar sits down right here on the sofa of Marriage Boot Camp. She went on this system to work on her marriage. (Picture Credit score: WEtv)
Generational abuse leaves an enduring legacy
In keeping with Amy Duggar, her grandfather’s abuse in opposition to her mom ended at the moment.
Nonetheless, Jimmy Lee remained an disagreeable man — not less than at instances — “name-calling” his daughter in lieu of bodily violence.
One thing fascinating about abusers is that a few of them appear to consider that their nice moments ought to depend for one thing. That’s not how something works!
Although Amy appears to have seen a unique facet of her grandfather, she is aware of what he actually was.
Amy summarizes: “Underneath JL’s charming and funny personality was a true monster.”
