Jacob Roloff’s family rallied around the Little People, Big World personality after he said was molested by a producer on the show in an Instagram statement Wednesday.
In the comment section of the post, Jacob’s mother Amy Roloff wrote, ‘I love you forever and always Jacob. I’m proud of you. Now you don’t have to feel alone and carry this around anymore.’
Jacob’s father Matt also showed his parental support, writing, ‘Love you Jacob George Roloff … very proud!’
Speaking out: Family and friends of Jacob Roloff, 23, rallied around the Little People, Big World personality after he said was molested by a producer on the show in an Instagram statement Wednesday
His wife Isabel Sofia Rock, who he married last year, told Jacob in the comments, ‘Proud to know you, proud to love you, proud to be your wife.’
He also received support from both of his sisters-in-law, Audrey and Tori, who are married to his brothers Jeremy and Zach, respectively.
‘Love you, George,’ Tori wrote, referring to Jacob’s middle name, while Audrey wrote, ‘Hate that you had to live through this Jacob.’
In his statement Wednesday, Jacob, 23, said, ‘It is often much easier to think about things than it is to talk about them, and so this disclosure has been delayed, but through that delay, I have found the fortitude and words.’
In the comment section of the post, Jacob’s mother Amy Roloff wrote, ‘I love you forever and always Jacob. I’m proud of you. Now you don’t have to feel alone and carry this around anymore’
Jacob’s father Matt also showed his parental support, writing, ‘Love you Jacob George Roloff … very proud!’
He also received support from his wife and both of his sisters-in-law, Audrey and Tori, who are married to his brothers Jeremy and Zach, respectively
‘As a child, I after what I realize now was a long grooming process, I was molested by … [a] producer for Little People, Big World… I do hope he is never allowed around children again.’
Roloff said he does ‘not expect to provide details of this encounter at any point publicly,’ adding that the person sent him a text ‘years later’ in November 2015 that led him to contemplate going public with his story.
‘By revealing this, I may be more fully understood and my perspective on issues such as child sexual abuse, child exploitation, and the collateral costs of reality television may be received more clearly,’ said Jacob, who tied the knot with wife Isabel Sofia Rock last year.
He continued: ‘Although, I would have to add that this experience has not solely defined my point of view on any of these issues, nor has it defined my worldview in general.
‘This may also serve as a reminder that the experience of sexual assault, in all of its iterations, can happen to anyone at anytime and is a far more prevalent reality than our current social stigma allows us to talk about.’
Roloff said he was emerging publicly at this time with the news because ‘a child must process’ and he ‘needed silence and time’ in his journey.
Background: Roloff said he was emerging publicly at this time with the news because ‘a child must process’ and he ‘needed silence and time’ in his journey
Jacob tied the knot with wife Isabel Sofia Rock last year
Roloff remarked on the voyeuristic nature of reality TV, calling it ‘a massive spectacle of drama and pain and argument and invasion, with a little joy sprinkled over, that viewers watch completely dissociated from the complex humans inside the simplistic “characters” they see on TV.’
He continued: ‘Yet, there is no inherent causal connection between reality television production and childhood trauma.
‘We are still sprinting ahead with the enterprise deaf, dumb and blind, asking for forgiveness later, instead of asking harder preliminary questions of ourselves. The profits were indeed sweet. The actual experience was more complicated.’
Roloff said that ‘all fault lies with the predator, and no fault lies with any of my family members,’ adding, ‘I am certain that this is a positive moment for me, and another step toward a brighter future. In solidarity with silent survivors, Jacob Roloff.’
TLC briefly addressed Jacob’s post, saying their ‘main focus remains on supporting the Roloff family during this very difficult time.
‘TLC was just informed about an alleged encounter that occurred years ago involving a third party connected to the production of Little People, Big World,’ the company said in a statement to media. ‘We are saddened and troubled by this very serious allegation, and TLC will work cooperatively with the authorities.’