Joseph Duggar In A Courtship? Photos Cause '19 Kids And Counting' Fans To Speculate He’s Dating Carlin Bates

There might be another official Duggar courtship on the horizon. “19 Kids and Counting” and “Bringing Up Bates” fans are speculating that Joseph Duggar and Carlin Bates are courting. 

Rumors of a potential romance between Joseph, 20, and Carlin, 17, began circulating late last month. Fans thought they may be an item when Joseph’s cousin Amy (Duggar) King posted a video of the suspected couple sitting close to one another, according to the Inquisitr. Carlin could also be seen wearing a red baseball cap in the video, which many speculated might be Joseph’s. The post in question has since been deleted, but you can check out screen grabs of the footage here. 

A family friend of the Duggars, Joe Donaldson, refueled the Joseph-Carlin courtship rumors when he recently shared a photo of Joseph and Carlin on Instagram. The image shows the two reality stars standing curiously close to one another in a group photo. The shot was taken at Sam’s Furniture store in Springdale, Arkansas, on New Year’s Day and features several Duggar and Bates family members.

While the Joseph and Carlin dating speculation has the “19 Kids and Counting” fanbase buzzing, they’re not the only Duggar and Bates family members rumored to be dating. Jinger Duggar, the sixth child of Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar’s 19 children has been linked to Kelly Jo and Gil Bates’ fourth born, Lawson, for three months.

Fans considered them to be a couple after a photo from Amy’s wedding to Dillon King was released in September showing Jinger, now 22, and Lawson, 23, standing side-by-side. Jinger refueled the rumors the following month when she visited the Bates with a few of her siblings in Tennessee.

While neither family has spoken out about the dating rumors, Kelly Jo recently told International Business Times there is never a dull moment in her brood. When asked what 2016 had in store for her family, Kelly Jo said: “With four married children and five other single children that will be 18 years or older, that leaves a whole lot of opportunity for change – whether by new romances, growing families, or other adventures!”

Bates fans can catch up with the family on “Bringing Up Bates,” which airs Thursdays at 9 p.m. EST on UPtv. TLC’s Duggar special, “Jill & Jessa: Counting on,” concluded in December.