Toby Willis, patriarch of TLC reality show The Willis Family, has been arrested in Kentucky for allegedly raping an underage girl 12 years ago. This marks the second high profile scandal in as many years for TLC reality stars, after Josh Duggar’s molestation scandal became public last year.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation began investigating the 46 year-old Willis last month after they:
“Developed information Willis had a sexual encounter approximately 12 years ago with an underage female.”
Willis was arrested in Kentucky after fleeing across Tennessee state lines in an attempt to evade authorities. He was extradited to Tennessee and remains in jail with no bond set, due to a Fugitive from Justice warrant. He has been charged with one count of Rape of a Child. According to a released statement, the investigation into Willis is “active and ongoing.”
Willis and his family starred in the TLC reality show The Willis Family, which followed their family band, known as “The Willis Clan,” both as they performed and in their home life. The band originally appeared on the competition show America’s Got Talent. It features parents Toby and Brenda Willis along with their 12 children.
The reality show last aired in April of 2016. The show page has been removed from TLC’s website, indicating that The Willis Family will not be renewed by TLC.
TLC has gone through some serious scandals with their reality shows over the last few years. Mama June, mother of reality star Honey Boo Boo, was investigated by a Georgia child protection agency once information was released that she was dating a convicted sex offender. Josh Duggar, star of 19 Kids and Counting, had his name released in the Ashley Madison hack and admitted to molesting multiple underage girls.
This latest investigation of Willis, especially considering it is “ongoing,” is yet another scary black eye for the network, and definitely calls into question what type of vetting, if any, TLC is utilizing for their reality stars.
Remember when TLC stood for The Learning Channel?
Feature Image via the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation
