Jep and Jessica Robertson of Duck Dynasty fame announced on Sunday that their 18-year-old daughter Priscilla is pregnant with her first child. Jessica shared the news on social media via an announcement that has since been criticized by fans for shaming Priscilla for becoming an unwed teen mom.
The very religious Robertsons made it clear that they are not thrilled about the pregnancy, expressing that the role of knocked-up teen mom was not one they had predicted for their daughter. They did, however, praise Priscilla and her boyfriend Dillion for keeping the baby.
“This isn’t the plans we had laid out for Priscilla but God takes our meager offerings and turns them into His greatest blessings!” Jessica captioned a series of snapshots featured Priscilla and her baby bump. “We are so proud that Priscilla & Dillion chose life for their baby and we will all be rewarded with this precious baby girl!”
In her post, Jessica noted that her family will soon have “3 babies under 1”– referring to the three grandchildren she and Jep will soon have.
The couple’s eldest child, 22-year-old Lily, welcomed son Winston with husband Austin Stalbaum in February. The couple’s second-oldest child, 20-year-old Merritt, is also set to become a mom this year, as she and husband Tyler Metro are expecting their first child in December. (Jessica and Jep are also parents to 16-year-old son River and nine-year-old son Gus.)
While Priscilla is set to give birth a couple months before her older sister Merritt, Jessica announced Merritt’s pregnancy back in June, revealing that she was “over the moon” for the arrival of the couple’s daughter.
A number of fans were quick to point out the stark difference in Jessica’s two announcements, with some taking issue with Jessica’s choice of words in her post for Priscilla.
“Ugh the disappointment she must feel when her own mom adds in: ‘this isn’t the plans we had for …,’” one person wrote, with another adding, “With the timing of the announcement and the disclaimer thrown in the middle, this poor girl must feel so much shame. Not a fun way to be celebrated.”
Others specifically called out the odd timing of the two pregnancy announcements, given Merritt and Priscilla’s respective due dates.
“You announced Merritt’s pregnancy before you announced Priscilla’s and Priscilla is due before Merritt, why is that,” one person asked. “Because you’re ashamed of her for not being married? This post is very backhanded. I feel so sorry for this sweet girl!!”
“She’s stunning,” another commented. “I’m sending love to her! Sad her sister’s pregnancy was announced before hers, when clearly she was pregnant first. I hope she knows she’s just as valid as her sister.”
“What’s rude is a mom making a very public statement of disapproval when almost everyone in that family has had children around that age, the only difference was they were already married,” someone else wrote.
Others defended Jessica’s choice of wording.
“Perfect way to announce it with both TRUTH & GRACE,” one person wrote. “It’s celebrating life while NOT celebrating sin.”
“Y’all she’s supporting her pregnant teen not teen pregnancy,” someone else commented. “If she would have announced it without that quip y’all would have came for her too.”
As The Ashley previously told you, former ‘Duck Dynasty’ star Willie Robertson– brother of Jep– revealed in December that he and his family were “getting back in production” for a reboot that he described as “the next generation” of ‘Duck Dynasty.’ Duck Dynasty: The Revival went on to premiere June 1 on A&E.
The reboot follows Willie and wife Korie Robertson, along with the next generation of Robertsons as they carry on the family’s legacy at their Louisiana homestead. As the family’s Duck Commander business expands beyond ducks, Willie and Korie explore the future of the family’s brand, while also supporting their children through milestone like marriage, parenthood and entrepreneurship. It is unknown if Priscilla’s pregnancy will be mentioned on the show.
RELATED STORY: ‘Duck Dynasty’ Star Phil Robertson Dead at Age 79 After Battling Alzheimer’s; Robertson Family Mourns the Patriarch
(Photos: Instagram)
9 Responses
I feel jessica was wrong for the comment that she made about priscilla because what if she married because she was pregnant and it didn’t work out then what so I feel that priscilla made the best choice don’t marry just because your pregnant and also jessica was wrong for announcing that Merritt was pregnant before priscilla because priscilla is due first I think is disappointed that priscilla is more than she letting on
Of course it isn’t the plan they had for their daughter. They planned for her to go to college. Now they are making the best of it and clearly stating that the baby is a blessing. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with what Jessica posted.
Our daughter took a gap year between undergrad and grad school. Our families had a lot of questions. We said, “this isn’t what we planned for her, but it’s what she wants, so we’re fine with it.” Big deal. It isn’t judgement, it’s a statement of fact.
They are supporting her and loving her and providing for her and for their future grandchild. I swear, people will attack anyone for anything these days.
That’s totally different than a 18 year old being pregnant. Undergrad to graduate means she got her degree and she is still a grown lady. The Robertsons want to come off as holier than thou when we know Phil was rascist.
1) The announcement timing probably has more to do with when each daughter wanted to go public. An accidental/surprise pregnancy, especially at a young age, also may require more time for the expectant mother to adjust. So it makes perfect sense that she’d want to go through her emotions and all that privately before announcing to the public.
2. This is a damned if you do, damned if you don’t situation. If Jessica had posted this the same way she posted the others, people would be mad and calling her a hypocrite for not acknowledging that her own daughter was pregnant out of wedlock. That said, I feel like people are overreacting. Nobody would be thrilled to find out that they’re unmarried teenage daughter is pregnant at a time when they were probably planning to send her off to college and all of that, and she didn’t say it in a hateful way (or at least I didn’t read it that way). She also immediately followed up by praising her daughter and saying they were excited for the baby, which is viewed as a blessing either way it goes.
Playing devil’s advocate here. She may not have known she was pregnant. My older sister found out she was pregnant with baby #2 and then I found out a month later I was ALSO pregnant with baby #2. When we went for our sonograms we found out I was a month further along. My baby was born mid October and hers was born mid November. My tests just kept coming back negative. It does happen.
Now, the “this isn’t what we had planned” was SUPER not necessary. I get being disappointed that your 18 year old unmarried child is pregnant, but Jesus. I was 18 and my dad said “shit happens”.
Maybe they announced it later to give the girl time to figure out if she wanted to keep the pregnancy or not?
And abortion is always villainized in holy-rolling, Bible-thumping families. Who’s to say the poor kid wanted to have an abortion but they wouldn’t allow her to do it? With a backhanded comment like that from her mom I wouldn’t doubt that’s the scenario.
Yeah, I imagine the pressure to keep it would be astronomical. But she would’ve been 18 at the time of conception, if her August 2006 birthday is anything to go by, so she could’ve taken care of it privately if she were so inclined. Not the same as a teenager under 18 who wants one but is denied (isn’t that what happened to Farrah from Teen Mom?). Hope the baby is healthy and hope that she and her partner are able to have a healthy parenting relationship.