The Willis Family TV show has been cancelled by TLC after its second season. Season two, which premiered on March 15, 2016, ended on April 19th with the episode, “Making Moves,” which is apparently the TV series finale. The reality series followed the musical family of Toby Willis, Brenda Willis, and their 12 children: Jessica, Jeremiah, Jennifer, Jeanette, Jackson, Jedidiah, Jasmine, Juliette, Jamie, Joy-Anna, Jaeger, and Jada.
People reports Toby Willis was arrested Friday, September 9th, on charges of child rape, for an incident alleged to have occurred 12 years ago, in Nashville. The magazine confirmed the show’s cancellation with TLC. Reportedly, the show was cancelled back in May, although news of it only broke in the wake of the arrest.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigations announced the arrest:
NASHVILLE – Special Agents from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation have arrested and charged an Ashland City man in connection to an ongoing child rape investigation.
At the request of 23rd District Attorney General Ray Crouch, TBI Agents began investigating Toby Nathaniel Willis (DOB 4-29-70) on August 29th. During the course of the investigation, Agents developed information Willis had a sexual encounter approximately 12 years ago with an underage female. The investigation into Willis remains active and ongoing.
Today, TBI Agents arrested the 46-year-old in Greenville, Kentucky, where he travelled in an effort to avoid law enforcement, and charged him with one count of Rape of a Child. At the time of this release, he was being held in the Muhlenberg County Jail without bond on a Fugitive from Justice warrant. He will ultimately face extradition to Cheatham County, where once booked, he will be held in the Cheatham County Jail without bond.
Here is more, from People:
Willis and his family starred on TLC’s The Willis Family, which followed their life as a musical family of 14. Toby, his wife Brenda, and their 12 children first rose to fame when they reached the quarterfinals of season nine of America’s Got Talent.
[…]
The show has aired two seasons on TLC, the last of which ended on April 19. In a statement to PEOPLE the network confirmed that they had canceled the series.
“We are shocked to hear the news,” the network said in a statement.
TLC has removed The Willis Family page from its website.
A source tells PEOPLE that the show was canceled back in May, shortly after their second season aired.
“The family was alerted of the cancellation back in may 2016,” the source said. “The network performed extensive background checks on all the family [members] and found no issues.
“Obviously this is something they were never aware of,” the source added.
What do you think? Did you watch The Willis Family TV series? Had you heard the show was cancelled, back in May?
You are currently viewing the mobile version of our site. View the full site to get free email alerts, vote on your favorite shows, comment, and more.