Jill Duggar On Leaving 'Counting On,' Cutting Ties With Family: ‘We'd Had Enough'

Jill Duggar Dillard famously exited "Counting On" in 2017, leaving fans wondering why she decided to quit at the time. But she has now revealed that the lack of control over their lives was the main reason she and husband Derick Dillard broke away from her famous family.

In an interview with People, Jill, who also starred in TLC’s "19 Kids and Counting," opened up about how hard it became for her and Derick toward the end, pushing them to ultimately quit "Counting On." She recalled that their goals as a couple would be affected if they were in conflict with the network or the clan’s vision.

"Our control to choose what jobs we were allowed to accept and even where we were allowed to live was taken away from us," Jill said.

"The first few years of our marriage, we spent time and money working towards opportunities only to hit a dead end when we'd be told, 'Well, you're not allowed to do that,'" Derick added.

When the couple told the clan and the network about their decision to leave, it "didn't go over very well with anyone." However, Jill said that they'd had enough at that point and knew that they "had to pull out completely to reevaluate and get our bearings."

TLC has yet to address Jill and Derick's revelation. Meanwhile, Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar, Jill's parents, said in a statement to People that families have "differences of opinion and perspective at times, but families work things out."

"We all love Jill, Derick, and their boys very much. It is our prayer that our relationship is healed and fully restored quickly!" the couple wrote.

Although there seems to be a rift between them, Jill still hopes that she and her family will eventually reconcile.

"I never expected this to happen or for it to get to this point. But I'm realizing I can't put a timeline on healing. I love my family and they love me. I really just have to follow God's lead and take it one day at a time," she said.

Jill, who was born to a very religious and conservative family, and her husband have since adopted a less strict lifestyle compared to the one she was raised with. They share two sons together: Israel David, 5, and Samuel Scott, 3.

The Duggar clan famously prohibits nearly all physical contact with the opposite sex before marriage. Family members are also forbidden from wearing clothes that exposed the knees or shoulders. Alcoholic beverages aren’t allowed as well.

However, since quitting “Counting On,” Jill has started wearing jeans, gotten a nose ring, enjoyed the occasional drink and modeled modest swimwear on her Instagram.