The Truth About Jana Duggar's BFF Laura
Jana Duggar has been dodging rumors for years about her romantic life – all because the Counting On star has the gall to still be single at the age of 30. According to certain fans, the issue isn't Duggar's reluctance to settle down, but the fact she doesn't seem interested in the opposite sex in the first place. In fact, a tell-all interview given by a former Duggar family employee to The Hollywood Gossip posited the idea that Jana is actually secretly in love with her best friend, Laura DeMasie, but her strict, super religious parents have forbidden their daughter from pursuing a romantic relationship.
So, what's the truth behind her relationship with Laura?
Rumors persist Jana and Laura are more than friends
According to THG, Jim Bob Duggar, patriarch of the clan, keeps a watchful eye over Jana's phone, to ensure she isn't talking to anybody she shouldn't be. Allegedly, he even kept Jana and Laura from being alone together before the latter moved to Georgia for a new job, which naturally left Jana heartbroken. Jim Bob was so concerned about what might be happening between them that he accompanied the duo on a trip to Las Vegas.
"She's gay, and she just doesn't know how she's gonna admit that she's gay, but she's in love with her best friend," the source advised, explaining Jana's parents are "totally anti-gay" and therefore would never approve of their daughter being in a relationship with a woman.
Jana Duggar says they're BFFs and nothing more
It's important to note, however, that Jana herself has denied these rumors, at one point telling a fan on Instagram (via Hollywood Life), "No. And I would like to stop that rumor. I have no interest in girls that way whatsoever." She added, in a separate Instagram comment (per HL), "I have 'courted' or 'dated' a few guys, but so far nothing has gone into a serious relationship. Just continuing to wait and pray for the right guy to come along."
Jana and Laura may be nothing more than friends, but they're seriously close. For a while, Laura even had her own room in the Duggar household. Laura was also present when Jinger and Joy-Anna had their babies. According to THG, Laura worked previously as a party planner, so it's likely she was instrumental in planning a lot of the bigger family events for the Duggars. She also assisted with their homeschooling for a time, as well as working for the Institute for Basic Life Principles, which is a major component of the Duggars' conservative belief system.
At the end of the day, we just hope Jana's happy — whether she's single or in a relationship with the person of her dreams.