Jill Duggar’s Husband Derick Dillard Makes a Bold Declaration About His Father-in-Law

Rumors of a reconciliation swirled after Jill Duggar and her husband, Derick Dillard, were spotted spending time with Jill’s estranged father, Jim Bob Duggar, over the holidays. But now, Derick is responding to the speculation, and it seems the family hasn’t patched things up after all.

In an Instagram photo posted on Christmas Day by Jill’s brother James Duggar, Jill and Derick sat on a couch, seemingly engaged in conversation with Jim Bob. The couple’s three sons—Israel, 9, Samuel, 7, and Freddie, 2—also appeared in the snap.

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Fans wondered if the pic meant that Jill, who’s been open about her complicated relationship with her parents, might be on better terms with her father now. However, Derick explained in a comment on People‘s Instagram post about the image that this was not the case.

“Just so people know, Jim Bob approached me while we were there on Christmas Day for about 5 minutes, and I do not respect him,” Derick wrote. 

“I don’t think that is considered ‘mingling,'” he continued, referencing People‘s headline.

Related: Jill Duggar Reunites With Dad Jim Bob in New Photo Amid Ongoing Family Rift

“There were over 100 people, the house is 8000 square feet, and Santa Claus was there, so this isn’t your typical intimate family gathering,” Derick added.

“I have spoken with him less than 10 minutes since the last time we were at that house, which was over a year ago. We’re trying to be civil for the sake of our family, but that doesn’t mean everything is all hunky dorey, and it sure doesn’t mean that I’m not going to comment when people try to warp reality for their own purposes,” he concluded.

Jill isn’t the only member of the Duggar family to have spoken out about tense relations with Jim Bob and their mom, Michelle. Sisters Joy-Anna and Jinger have also been candid about their upbringing, with Jinger publishing a memoir, Becoming Free Indeed: My Story of Disentangling Faith from Fear.

Next, The Duggar Family: Where Are They Now? Inside the Lives of Jinger, Jessa, Jill and More