Josh Duggar admits to cheating on his wife Anna Duggar

SILVER SPRING, Md., Aug. 20 (UPI) -- Josh Duggar of 19 Kids & Counting publicly confessed to cheating on his wife Anna Duggar a day after being linked to a paid account on extramarital dating site Ashley Madison.

Duggar released a statement on the family's official website admitting to being unfaithful, leading a double life and going against his own beliefs.

"I have been the biggest hypocrite ever. While espousing faith and family values, I have secretly over the last several years been viewing pornography on the internet and this became a secret addiction and I became unfaithful to my wife," he wrote. "I am so ashamed of the double life that I have been living and am grieved for the hurt, pain, and disgrace my sin has caused my wife and family, and most of all Jesus and all those who profess faith in Him."

He then mentioned his previous scandal that involved molesting five underage girls including his sisters Jill and Jessa Duggar when he was a teenager. That scandal led to TLC canceling 19 Kids & Counting after running for 10 seasons.

"I brought hurt and a reproach to my family, close friends and the fans of our show with my actions that happened when I was 14-15 years old, and now I have re-broken their trust," he continued. "The last few years, while publicly stating I was fighting against immorality in our country, I was hiding my own personal failings. As I am learning the hard way, we have the freedom to choose to our actions, but we do not get to choose our consequences. I deeply regret all hurt I have caused so many by being such a bad example."

The statement ends with an apology. "I humbly ask for your forgiveness. Please pray for my precious wife Anna and our family during this time."

Duggar family patriarchs Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar also released a statement on their official site.

"When we learned of this late last night our hearts were broken," the parents of Josh Duggar said. "As we continue to place our trust in God we ask for your prayers for Josh, Anna, our grandchildren, and our entire family."

Josh and Anna Duggar have been married since 2008 and have 4 children together.