Sorry, Josh Duggar; your reputation might have been destroyed for nothing after all.

Confirming what many had probably already long suspected, the newly installed leadership of Ashley Madison parent company Avid Life Media admitted this week that the dating website, which helps married individuals have secret affairs, had been using bots to entice subscribers.

The revelation came via a press release announcing the appointment of Avid Life Media CEO Rob Segal and president James Millership, who said that, while the use of bots had occurred in the past, such was no longer the case.

Also Read: Ashley Madison CEO Steps Down After Hack Exposes Reality Star Husbands' Accounts

“My understanding is that bots are widespread in the industry, but they are no longer being used, and will not be used, at Avid Life Media and Ashley Madison,” Millership said.

That conclusion was reached via a forensic investigation to “review past business practices around bots and the ratio of male and female US members who were active on the site.” The investigation concluded that the company stopped using bots in North America in 2014 and internationally last year.

What are they going to tell us next — that the site wasn’t actually created by a woman named Ashley Madison?

The dating site was victimized by hackers last year, in a leak that revealed that former “19 Kids & Counting” star Duggar — a vocal family-values advocate — had two accounts with Ashley Madison. He reportedly held the subscriptions from February 2013 to May 2015 and quickly entered rehab following the public disclosure.

Also Read: Josh Duggar Checks Into Rehab Following Ashley Madison Controversy

The new leadership acknowledged the site’s security issues, with Segal saying, “The company is truly sorry for how people’s lives and relationships may have been affected by the criminal theft of personal information. That’s why we’re charting a new course and making some big changes.”

The pair also plan to make Ashley Madison the “world’s most open-minded dating community.”

“With the right investment, innovation and customer care, the brand has promising potential to overcome its current challenges,” Millership said. “We’re investing heavily in technology — and we’re looking at acquisitions, a total rebranding, new features, partnerships and new ventures.”

15 Stars Who've Posted Nude Selfies, From Chrissy Teigen to Liam Payne (Photos)

We're marking #NationalSelfieDay by looking at the biggest exhibitionists: From Miley Cyrus to Geraldo Rivera, here are stars who have mastered the art of nude selfies.
Chrissy Teigen

The model wished her friend Marisa Matins a happy birthday on Instagram -- by posing completely nude behind her husband, John Legend.

“HAPPY BIRTHDAY @MARISAMXO,” Teigen captioned the picture.

Instagram
Miley Cyrus

Cyrus is the queen of nude selfies, and the singer will often spark controversy with her raunchy and revealing Instagram posts and outfits. Months ago, she stripped down for the camera, with fans commenting that the image was pornographic.
Instagram
Nicki Minaj

With plenty of risque nude selfies to choose from, Minaj let her hair down for this one.
Instagram
Kim Kardashian

Kardashian broke the internet when she posted a nude in March 2016 with the caption, "When you're like I have nothing to wear LOL." The picture spawned backlash from some, and support from others.
Instagram
Emily Ratajkowski

Ratajkowski sure flaunts herself on Instagram, and also posted a nude in support of Kim Kardashian's steamy photo with the reality star herself.
Instagram
Chelsea Handler

Handler set the internet on fire when she posted a topless picture of herself on a horse in protest of Instagram's no-nipple policy. Her photo was removed, but she kept uploading it. In February 2015, she also uploaded this picture to Twitter with the caption, "Thanks for having me Twitter."

[Note: we censored the image]
Twitter
Geraldo Rivera

In 2013, Rivera posted a bathroom mirror selfie with the caption, "70 is the new 50." He later removed it, blaming the incident on tequila.
Twitter
Justin Bieber

The "Sorry" singer sure likes to bare his butt on Instagram, once on a tropical vacation in 2015, and another during a camping trip.
Instagram
The Game

The rapper made headlines in 2015 after Justin Bieber's butt pic with a snapshot in his briefs.
Instagram
John Legend

In response to the outrage over Bieber's butt pic, Chrissy Teigen posted a picture of her husband's backside to Instagram.
Instagram
Tara Reid

The "American Pie" star likes to post pictures of herself in a bikini, but during a New Year's vacation in Mexico, Reid posted a picture on Instagram in which she appeared to be completely naked.
Instagram
Christina Aguilera

The "Genie in a Bottle" singer wanted to get "personal" with her fans, and posted a mirror selfie of herself wearing nothing but a leopard print hat and pink undies.
Instagram
Demi Lovato

The singer stripped down for her Instagram in 2016, captioning the image, "What's wrong with being confident? #vanityfair #CONFIDENT"
Instagram
Tyson Beckford

The model posted several racy pictures on his Snapchat, and this one was posted to his Instagram as well.
Instagram
Liam Payne

In July 2019, former 1Direction singer Liam Payne had no trouble showing off his well-toned bod in a retweeted image shown side by side with a shot of a naked Kate Moss in a similar director's chair

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TheWrap takes a look at Hollywood’s biggest social exhibitionists

We're marking #NationalSelfieDay by looking at the biggest exhibitionists: From Miley Cyrus to Geraldo Rivera, here are stars who have mastered the art of nude selfies.

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