Netflix’s docuseries “Ashley Madison: Sex, Lies and Scandal” delves into the infamous cheating website scandal, exploring how it attracted a large number of members and the impact of a targeted hack that exposed millions of users. The series features interviews from former employees, members, and high-profile users, including Josh Duggar, a reality TV personality from the show “19 Kids and Counting.” Josh faced public scrutiny after his involvement in the scandal, which revealed that he cheated on his wife, Anna, through the site.
Josh Duggar’s involvement in the Ashley Madison scandal came to light in 2015 when a data breach exposed his account details, showing he spent almost $1,000 on the website. This revelation came after a police report revealed that he had molested his sisters and others when he was a teenager. Despite the scandal and public backlash, Josh and Anna remained married and continued to expand their family. However, in 2021, Josh was arrested on child pornography charges and sentenced to 151 months in prison. The docuseries covers Josh’s journey through the scandal and its aftermath.
Another celebrity mentioned in the docuseries is Hunter Biden, son of President Joe Biden, who was also linked to an Ashley Madison account. Hunter denied any involvement with the site, stating that someone had used his old email address to create the account without his knowledge. The docuseries also addresses allegations against Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi’s husband, Jionni LaValle, who was accused of having an account on the site. Snooki defended her husband and denied the claims, stating that he is a stand-up guy who loves his family.
Reality TV star Kristen Taekman’s husband, Josh Taekman, was another individual involved in the scandal as his name was part of the leaked data. Josh admitted to having an account on Ashley Madison and apologized for any embarrassment he caused his wife and family. Kristen later spoke about how the scandal strengthened their marriage. Christian bloggers Sam and Nia Rader also shared their experience with the dating app in the docuseries, revealing the challenges they faced in their marriage after Sam’s involvement in the scandal.
Michelle McGee, a former Ashley Madison ambassador, shared her experience of getting involved with the company in 2010 after her alleged affair with Sandra Bullock’s then-husband, Jesse James. McGee did promotional work for Ashley Madison, but her photos were later used for fake accounts on the site. Former employees confirmed that female accounts on the website were not always authentic, with bots used to engage with male profiles. The docuseries sheds light on the various individuals affected by the Ashley Madison scandal and the lasting impact it had on their lives and relationships.
