Josie Duggar is famously the nineteenth child of Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar, with fans watching her very birth on the family’s reality show. Recently, Josie was the subject of a viral story claiming she had passed away. The story proved prominent enough that one famous source weighed in on the claims, noting some issues with the story.
Josie Duggar’s Birth Was Previously Showcased On Season 4 Of 19 Kids & Counting
Viewers were introduced to members of the Duggar family and their lives in Arkansas through reality shows like 19 Kids and Counting and Counting On. Through it, fans got to know Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar and their nineteen children.
Josie is the couple’s nineteenth child, whose birth caused the family’s TLC series to update its title. Born in 2009, her birth, through a C-section, was the subject of the premiere of 19 Kids and Counting‘s fourth season.
Recently, Josie was at the center of a viral rumor online claiming that she passed away from cancer in October 2025. This story appeared on Facebook, claiming that Josie had passed away at the age of 16. Some accounts of the story even included memorial images of the young Duggar.
The story proved prominent enough to spark attention from Snopes, a website dedicated to fact-checking and debunking online hoaxes. The site took a few issues with the story.
Josie Appeared On Images & Videos Shared On Social Media As Recent As October 13, Looking To Be In Good Health
As the site noted, there hadn’t been any online references to Josie even having cancer prior to the viral story being shared. Similarly, citing another Google search, it was claimed, “no reputable reports indicate that she has died.”
In addition, Josie appears in videos and photos shared by her older siblings as recently as October 13. One recent video shared on Instagram, for example, included every Duggar sister except Jana.
In a caption, Joy-Anna Forsyth wrote, “Back together again (well… almost… ). Missing Jana, but so glad our sister-in-law Kendra is here!” In a later share from Jinger Vuolo, they were attending a Christian women’s conference, Share the Arrows, with their mother in Texas.
Finally, Snopes noted that any news concerning Josie, would likely come from the family themselves. As she is known to many fans due to her television appearances, it is also likely that such a story would be reported on by prominent news sites. Ultimately, the website deemed the viral story “false.”
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