For most of his life, James Duggar never traveled more than a few miles from his parents’ sprawling compound in northwest Arkansas.
These days, though, the 21-year-old is making up for lost time with a trek around the world that would make Carmen San Diego jealous.
Fans were shocked when James took off for London, seemingly as the Duggars don’t usually show much curiosity about the world outside America.
Or outside of Arkansas, for that matter.
Little did we know that this was the start of their intercontinental world tour!
After London, James met up with sister Jana in Rome.
The siblings seemed to be enjoying quite the good time, but they documented a moment that really rubbed fans the wrong way.
Before we go any further, we must warn you that the topic we are about to cover is a sensitive one.
It’s the kind of thing that tears families apart, and it’s likely why many first dates come to an abrupt halt.
Of course, we’re talking about the unforgivable sin of eating pizza with a knife and fork.
The controversy started when James posted an Instagram Live in which he and a friend sampled the local fare.
“When in Italy… #foodies,” she wrote on the clip.
According to a UK tabloid, one person commented, “Please don’t eat pizza with a knife and fork.” Sun,
“You don’t eat pizza with a knife and fork,” he added.
Some commentators were even more outspoken, labeling James’ actions “disgusting”.
In another clip, James and his friend Elijah stop at an Italian McDonald’s to enjoy a taste of home.
“Who goes to Italy to eat at McDonald’s? These people should never leave Arkansas, because they’re not going out of their comfort zone,” wrote one commenter.
Others defended the move, noting that the European McDonald’s experience is different from the American one.
“I’m not defending these people, but I go to McDonald’s in other countries. Not for every meal, but at least once,” wrote one person.
“The European McDonald’s really is a completely different experience,” added another.
Of course, James is an evangelical Christian, and therefore, the real highlight of his global tour was a visit to Israel.
“Had the wonderful privilege of stopping and praying for a while in the Garden of Gethsemane where our Lord prayed the night before,” James shared with fans.
The holy moment was radically different from James and Elijah’s trip to Switzerland, where the young reindeer partied with the locals during a raucous carnival before Lent.
“So apparently there’s a carnival that only happens once a year and we’re right in the middle of it!!!” Elijah gave this information on his Instagram page.
So James is at least sowing his oats on this trip.
And if that embarrasses his family a little bit – well, that’s what your early twenties are for, isn’t it?
At that age almost any kind of crime can be forgiven.
As long as James learns to pick up a slice of pizza and eat it with his hands, he’ll be fine!