Less than a year after the docuseries Shiny Happy People: Duggar Family Secrets was released on Prime Video, the first trailer for a documentary responding to the piece has been released.
According to its YouTube channel bio, that upcoming docuseries— called Shiny Slander— will be a “four-part documentary series in response to ‘Shiny Happy People,’ the popular Amazon Prime original that attempts to defame all of Christianity via the actions of a few individuals…”
As The Ashley previously told you, supporters of the Duggar family and the family’s religious organization, the Institute of Basic Life Principles (IBLP), were not very pleased with ‘Shiny Happy People’–- which exposed the Duggars, the IBLP and its founder, Bill Gothard. The pro-IBLP groups responded in August by launching a fundraising campaign to raise money to create their own docuseries to combat the “slanderous misrepresentations and outright lies” they say were hurled at them in ‘Shiny Happy People.’
While the online campaign raised just over $3,000 of its $300,000 goal, the first trailer for Shiny Slander was released this week, with the multi-part documentary slated to be released in full later this year.
The trailer begins with a voiceover of Bill Gothard explaining “slander” as the act of “telling part of the truth or telling falsehood with a design to hurt.”
“Every one of us is going to be given an opportunity, if we haven’t already, to be publicly accused, and whenever you or I are publicly accused, it’s like we have a responsibility to take that drink of bitter water,” the clip continues. “That’s a bitter thing, to be accused– falsely accused– of something.”
The trailer then cuts to multiple clips from the ‘Shiny Happy People’ documentary, in which the IBLP was hit with multiple accusations, including that it operates as a cult, subjects members to abuse, denies women’s rights, “harbors ped0files,” has a goal of “world domination” and more. The ‘Shiny Slander’ trailer then begins responding to=– and refuting–- the claims made in the very successful ‘Shiny Happy People’ series.
“Do I think the production company is trying to hurt Christians and homeschoolers? Yes,” Holly McLean of the ‘Shiny Slander’ documentary tells viewers.
Holly–- who, in addition to “researching” information for the documentary, authored the book, How to Train Your Child to Behave–- calls the Prime Video docuseries “a total lie,” claiming she was “so upset” by the content that she “couldn’t leave it alone.”
We also see a young man and woman-– Paul and Morgan Olliges–- who were featured in ‘Shiny Happy People’ claim that they were lied to by producers when they agreed to participate in the Prime Video project. Holly alleges that Paul and Morgan had been given the impression by producers that their interview would show “their faith,” but instead, the couple claim they have been “demonized” by their participation.
‘Shiny Slander’ appears to also go after other participants who spoke out against the IBLP/Bill Gothard in ‘Shiny Happy People,’ by seemingly attempting to discredit the stories and personal accounts that were shared in the docuseries–- including one case involving a lawsuit.
The upcoming documentary also promises an interview from IBLP founder Bill Gothard, presumably responding to the countless allegations that have been made against both him and his organization.
“This is the first version of the trailer for the new documentary in the works entitled Shiny Slander– an exposé on the misrepresentations and lies in the Amazon docuseries Shiny Happy People blaming the Duggar family, IBLP and Bill Gothard for spreading a pandemic of abuse in the Christian homeschooling culture,” details for the upcoming documentary read.
‘Shiny Slander’ is slated to be released in 2024, though a date has not been announced.
UPDATE! In a comment sent to The Ashley after this story was published, Holly McLean clarified that she launched this project herself, and that the Duggars, Bill Gothard and the IBLP had no part in its making.
“Thank you for writing about the upcoming docuseries ‘Shiny SLANDER,’ but a statement made here is inaccurate,” Holly wrote. “There is no ‘pro-IBLP’ group or groups that are behind the launching of this project. I am an individual not associated in any way with the Duggars, IBLP or Gothard. This was no group effort and no one is in charge of its content except me.
“Also, just a note, SHP didn’t ‘expose’ the Duggars, IBLP or Gothard,” she continued. “They lied and misrepresented them. That is very different than exposing. It is creating a false narrative.”
Watch the first trailer below.
(Photos: TLC; YouTube)
I’m not saying it was all slander, but in all honesty, Gothard did beat that lawsuit, and he beat it hard-core the stuff that came out about those girls and their inaccuracies. They told some blatant lies. I don’t know if it’s because they remembered thing, wrong or what, but they did spin that, oddly in the Dugger documentary, they’re still a bunch of crazy fucking whack jobs, but you could approve that without adding all the extra lies in and the half troops because they were quite a few of them … and it’s kind of hypocritical, since that’s exactly what we’re accusing the Duggers of… and someone who was raised in a church, living fundamental praise God church I can tell you there’s evil on both sides there’s lies on both sides, and the only thing either side gives a shit about money
Ashley, thanks for the “Karen” caption! You always ALWAYS make me giggle ♥
Thank you for writing about the upcoming docuseries Shiny SLANDER, but a statement made here is inaccurate.
There is no “pro-IBLP” group or groups that are behind the launching of this project. I am an individual not associated in anycway with the Duggars, IBLP or Gothard.
This was no group effort and no one is in charge of its content except me.
Also, just a note, SHP didn’t “expose” the Duggars, IBLP or Gothard. They lied and misrepresented them. That is very different than exposing. It is creating a false narrative.
Thank you again for writing about the project. I appreciate it. If you have any questions, please write me an email at holly@mommyanswerlady.com or you can see the Shiny SLANDER YouTube channel for more info on the lies in SHP.
@holly ~ um, read the room…
🙄🙄😴
I have a question…..I have a few…..
Where did you formally study in order to learn how to train infants?
Did you get a shiny medal for it, or a pretty certificate?
Can we see it, or is it a super secret you can’t share?
Do you have a husband?
Does he know you’re speaking out of turn?
Will you have to postpone the release of your spoof..err…documentary while you complete your punishment for being disobedient?
Are you comfy in your handbasket?
Would you like some snacks?
Do you need a tour when you arrive, or do you just plan to flail about like the rest of us heathens when you get down here?
“Every one of us is going to be given an opportunity, if we haven’t already, to be publicly accused, and whenever you or I are publicly accused, it’s like we have a responsibility to take that drink of bitter water,” the clip continues. “That’s a bitter thing, to be accused– falsely accused– of something.”
I have reread this like 10 times. What an incredible selection of words for Bill to try to string together. All of us will someday be publicly accused of something, which we will then have a responsibility to drink bitter water. It’s a bitter thing to be accused —- FALSELY, MAY I ADD!!!!! — of something.
I think you’re calling oh I’m out for his ridiculous statement that ALL of us will at some point be publicly accused of something horrid—did I interpret that correctly?
If so, I legitimately don’t understand the downvotes.
The fact is that most people will NEVER be publicly accused of anything.
I believe they were all given an opportunity to participate in SHP and declined to do so.
That they only collected $3k of the 300k requested and were STILL able to make the rebuttal is also curious to me. Who funded the other $297k?
Pish! I should have proofed before posting! 🥴
I find it ironic they tried to crowd find $300,000 and wound up with $3,000. Apparently shiny happy people aren’t happy to open their wallets for the cause.
Well most of them have like 10 kids and live on the salary of a father with no education, so I can’t imagine they have much to spare 😂
They could have told their “truth” in Shinny Happy People and they refused as usual. They just want to victimize themselves. And the documentary wasn’t about Christianity, it was about that awful cult.
HARD. PASS. ⏭️
Is it still slander when what they say is true?
Best of luck getting folks on your side, though.
Right. Slander doesn’t have to do with “half truths” or intentionally embarrassing the subjects. If it’s true, it’s true and the truth is often embarrassing.