I don't feel sorry for any parent who affirms. I do not know, nor particularly care to know if JR is one of these parents. I do know know if the gossip is correct and I don't want to indulge gossip.
However I will say this more generally about parents.
There are many many parents, including many here, who have decided of their own free will NOT to take an affirmation only approach for various reasons.
Some have been alienated. Others have kept in touch but have a strained relationship. Some have a good relationship but have moved to a more nuanced position where sex is still recognised. Others still have children who have subsequently detransitioned, and their role in not affirming has been crucial.
MN highlights the wide range of options and approaches and outcomes that can and do happen.
What HASN'T happened, to my knowledge, is a MN's child has killed themselves because they haven't been affirmed despite all the threats and rhetoric that if you don't affirm fully without question your child will top themselves.
Parents DO have choices here. Very difficult ones at times, but they are not required to affirm at all costs. So I do not feel sorry for any parent who makes an active choice to affirm. And it is an active choice.
I also will make an additional point. Many families are toxic and many are NC for all manner of reasons. It can be nothing to do with trans at all. Sometimes a troubled child will just disassociate with the best of parents anyway. These trans identifying kids and young adults ARE amongst the most troubled there are. We know this. We have evidence of this.
It's likely that if it wasn't trans, many would have strained relationships with their families anyway. These are kids who have a high chance they have fallen down another rabbit hole - be it another cult, social group or toxic relationship. These are kids unsure of themselves and actively looking for an identity or sense of belong precisely because they lack that self of security and belonging. There are multiple reasons this could happen - family breakdown, trauma, abuse etc etc. You know all the things over represented in the trans community anyway.
We also know this problem with social interactions and relationships is particularly typical of neuro diverse people across the board and we know how highly over represented this group is.
So no, parents are not total hostages to this. They can do different things. It is dishonest to suggest there's no choices available for parents. Parents do not have to tolerate coercive and manipulative blackmail if they are on the recieving end of it. Sometimes being tough as a parent is appropriate and the best approach. Let's not suggest otherwise.