Pennsylvania natives and residents Jon and Kate Gosselin, have made quite a name for themselves over the past two years. The pair, parents of a set of twins and a set of sextuplets, are the stars of the top-rated TLC program, Jon and Kate Plus 8. The show is in its fourth season and while the program has a huge following, a quick survey of internet message boards and blogs will reveal that there are many who disagree with Jon and Kate Gosselin's decision to let their children's lives play out on camera.
Neither Jon nor Kate are currently employed. They reportedly earn their income from the show, public speaking appearances, and have recently published a book, "Multiple Blessings." Kate has been quoted as saying,"Our life is our show. Our show is our life." The Gosselins have even shared on their program that they have professional lighting installed throughout their central Pennsylvania home so that the home is better equipped for filming.
The blogosphere has recently been buzzing, reporting that the couple has moved from their modest home in Lancaster County and purchased a million dollar house in neighboring Berks County.
Many critics say that the parents are exploiting their children for financial gain and fear that their decision to allow their children to grow up with the world watching will lend to serious consequences in the future. Some others support Jon and Kate's decision to participate in the show, believing that it is providing the children with two stay-at-home parents and financial stability.
Paul Peterson, ex-child star and founder of the non-profit organization, A Minor Consideration, an organization providing support to child stars in crisis, has been one of the most vocal in the debate. He believes that the children are being overworked and exploited. Peterson even made an appearance on CNN stating, "Children need secrets. They need silences. They don't need to live in a fishbowl."
Comments
This is OLD news!
This is OLD news!
THANK YOU for this article! And it is NOT old news! Paul Petersen was just on CNN a couple weeks ago about this very family AND he'll be on Bill O'Reilly in a couple weeks. Kudos to you Jen Orosky for bringing this subject to light. You are not the only one. The truth behind this family has to be told. Thank you for being another who is doing so!
THANK YOU for this article! And it is NOT old news! Paul Petersen was just on CNN a couple weeks ago about this very family AND he'll be on Bill O'Reilly in a couple weeks. Kudos to you Jen Orosky for bringing this subject to light. You are not the only one. The truth behind this family has to be told. Thank you for being another who is doing so!
Jen, Thank you for sharing this. It is about time more mainstream media is reporting on this despicable couple and how they have pimped out their eight kids to never have to work again. These kids are being exploited and there should be laws to protect kids in reality TV shows. Constant filming without regard to the kids' privacy and dignity will have a lasting negative impact on them. Thanks again, jen.
Jon needs to get a JOB! Or maybe Kate should since she's the employable one with a degree in nursing and Jon takes take of the kids anyways ala Mr. Mom. There is so much to be told about this scam of a family. Thank you for shedding some of the light on them!
Oh Lord, have you been reading Gosselins Without Pity? If you look carefully, it's actually just a bunch of people who love to hate others while hiding behind "child advocacy."
What's Gosselins Without Pity? My take on the show is I used to love it in the beginning when you could relate to the struggles of her being home all day, Jon being gone at work. Now none of that is happening and it's all about free this and that and those poor kids getting no privacy taking a bath or going potty or when they're sick. It's turned into a freak show or something. No thanks, but glad this article is out there. Keep up the good work!
What's Gosselins Without Pity? My take on the show is I used to love it in the beginning when you could relate to the struggles of her being home all day, Jon being gone at work. Now none of that is happening and it's all about free this and that and those poor kids getting no privacy taking a bath or going potty or when they're sick. It's turned into a freak show or something. No thanks, but glad this article is out there. Keep up the good work!
What's Gosselins Without Pity? My take on the show is I used to love it in the beginning when you could relate to the struggles of her being home all day, Jon being gone at work. Now none of that is happening and it's all about free this and that and those poor kids getting no privacy taking a bath or going potty or when they're sick. It's turned into a freak show or something. No thanks, but glad this article is out there. Keep up the good work!
I enjoyed the yearly specials when Jon actually left the house to work, not cram himself in a closet and call it an office. The kids would line up and wait for him to come home. They were a struggling family or so it seemed. Word then spread from "helpers", neighbors and extended family that all was not what it seemed. They have been outed on some of the, well I will call them half truths over the years. I now ignore the show as it is one long commercial for products, spas, airlines and exotic vacation spots. In one year they went to Disney World, skiing in Utah, Chicago to Oprah, California to Ellen, North Carolina beach house, San Diego and Hawaii. Yeah, they are a struggling family.
I feel sorry for the twins as over the years they have become sullen and withdrawn. They must take a beating from the kids at school. They are pretty young ladies that need their privacy. It's bad enough that their parents opted to be some "fertility treatment gone wrong," and they have gotten lost in the shuffle. Wait until the six get into grade school and their schoolmates Google a You Tube video of them on their "potties trying to poop." They better learn to fight because unless they are home schooled, there are going to be a few fights. The parents have no shame, end the show now.
Hallelujah! It's about time that more people spoke up about this.
I cannot watch the show any longer, and find myself shunning any of the products that are advertised in my only silent protest.
My few dollars I'm sure won't make a darn bit of difference to TLC or the sponsors, but I will not contribute one cent to the exploitation of those children.
Jen, I don't know if you've watched the show, but if you haven't recently please do. I think you'll see soon enough what we're getting seeing and what Paul Peterson is so vocal about.
Thank you for bringing more attention to this matter! There is nothing good about raising children on television and sharing so many personal moments. I don't think Jon or Kate really understand what they're doing to their kids. I could care less how much money they're making, these kids will have real psychological problems if they aren't having them already. The twins are already being harassed in school, but what do the parents care? Neither of them work and they can hide from public scrutiny behind their army of assistants that help them with the most mundane of chores. The poor children cannot hide, and they can't even seek refuge in their own home since it's become a studio.
As a long-time reader at GWOP, I'd appreciate not being labeled as a hater. I do not hate these people at all, I wish for the best for the children. Yes, I would miss seeing the kids grow up, but they are not my children and they are not yours. They deserve privacy and it's their parents job to provide that for them.
Thank you! These poor kids should not have to endure being constantly followed around by cameras, being recorded throwing tantrums, running around in their underwear, being punished, and going to the bathroom. I'm embarrassed enough by the home movies of me when I'm little. I can't imagine how embarrassed I'd be if they were being broadcast to millions of people.
When will one of the primetime evening shows do an investigation on TLC's alleged top-rated show? Why haven't Dateline, 20/20, 60 minutes or 48 hours investigated them yet? This should have been done already. They should do survillence on them and report back to the viewers to on what really takes place at home (both film & non-film days), free clothes and toys, the treatment of the children, the trips and how they came to buy a multi-million house.
From what is on Paul Petersen's website he is going to be on Bill O'Reilly the first week in December. I hope he talks about this family. His show reaches millions. This would be such a good thing.
WOW THANKS FOR WHOEVER MENTIONED THIS GOSSELINS WITHOUT PITY WEBSITE. I HAD NO IDEA IT WAS OUT THERE. FINALLY AN OUTLET FOR PEOPLE WHO DON'T LIKE THE SHOW ANYMORE NOR CAN STOMACH KATE EITHER!
The Gosselins are a lovely family who, in no way deserve the hate that is spewed toward them on the internet by GWoP and other sites. What is picking apart every little thing the parents do and say doing to help the children? Nothing! That's what. These sites claim they just want to "save the poor children", yet in the next sentence they pick on Kate for something as trivial as her hairstyle. IMO, most of these people who are complaining online, love to hate Kate. If they really felt strongly about the exploitation issue, they would stop watching the show. No ratings= no show= no exploitation. But every week, they continue to tune in and every day they are on their computers typing away about what Kate, did or said that p****d them off or what freebie or trip the family got, that "Woe is them, they have to pay for, so why shouldn't the Gosselins?" Complaining about Kate has become a hobby for some of these women (yes, it's mostly women). It has nothing to do w/ saving the children. That only gives them some sense of redemption for doing this.
More repeats of the same ole crap you can read at that "hater" blog site. I love how these columns and little snips in the local paper aren't even checking for factual accuracies. Instead they read a hater blog and simply repeat what they read not knowing if the info is true or not. Very sad.
Their show is one big infomercial. It's time for TLC to pull for the plug on these two, and send one of them back to WORK.
Jon & Kate are leeches. Their "Love Collections" at all the churches have
financed their 25 acre house. USERS!!!
I love this show. These parents are great. People need to back off and take down all of these websites that are critical of Jon and Kate. Thanks
That Kate is a b!tch on wheels.
Thanks Steve W for a shining example of the kind of hatred that is the biggest part of these blogs that were used in the "research" of this article.
Don't tell me these two are stay at home parents? Who is paying for those trips and the new house? I thought Jon worked all day and came home to his exhausted wife who then handed the kids off to him? I did begin to notice that all they do is travel and get preferential treatment everywhere they go but I never knew neither one of them worked outside the show!!! Wow, that is complete and pure exploitation! Tell me it isn't true!!! It can't be! Where are the authorities during all the filming? Jon and Kate Gosselin have said themselves that they film 3-4 days a weeks, isn't that a bit much for kids their age? Really, isn't it?
A 1.3 million dollar home is not a 'multi-million' dollar home.
I used to love the show. I stopped watching the show when the dad pulled the poop out of one of the poor little boy's butt on camera and talked about it non stop. Those kids are going to need therapy when they are teens and all their friends tease them about things like this. More power to Paul Peterson. He has lived through all the junk that child stars have to deal with. If the parents had half a brain between them, they would listen to the man. Sadly, I don't think they will.
Pam - you are absolutely right and I will edit the above post to make the correction.
Kelly - the point of the post was to point to the controversy surrounding the show. Nothing mentioned above was gathered from other blogs without being verified.
WOW THANKS FOR WHOEVER MENTIONED THIS GOSSELINS WITHOUT PITY WEBSITE. I HAD NO IDEA IT WAS OUT THERE. FINALLY AN OUTLET FOR PEOPLE WHO DON'T LIKE THE SHOW ANYMORE NOR CAN STOMACH KATE EITHER!
Thanks Jen for the balanced article. It would have been interesting if you could have nailed down some facts in regards to all the rumors out there.
At least we didn't see poop being extracted from Paul Peterson's bottom on camera from The Donna Reed show.Reality tv has made our society a bit more wacko.
Don't tell me these two are stay at home parents? Who is paying for those trips and the new house? I thought Jon worked all day and came home to his exhausted wife who then handed the kids off to him? I did begin to notice that all they do is travel and get preferential treatment everywhere they go but I never knew neither one of them worked outside the show!!! Wow, that is complete and pure exploitation! Tell me it isn't true!!! It can't be! Where are the authorities during all the filming? Jon and Kate Gosselin have said themselves that they film 3-4 days a weeks, isn't that a bit much for kids their age? Really, isn't it?
Renee - "Spewed at them?" I guess "spew" would be the correct word to use when talking about Jon and Kate Gosselin since they're both snakes! These two need to stop scamming innocent church goers who think they walk on water because they decided not to selectively reduce. Good God, get over it! Stop using your kids to better your life! Get jobs that don't include the exploitation of your kids. Open your eyes people!!!
To the author/moderator of this article and corresponding comments. I would appreciate you removing the above comment that was left under "Bohemian Moon". I am the owner of a blog in which I write about the Gosselin exploitation, among other subjects, and apparently my stalker/s are out and about and posing as myself.
Please compare the IP numbers between posters posing as Bohemian Moon and myself, "Bohemianmoon". The one that comes with this post is obviously me.
I blogged about your article this afternoon. It upsets those that approve of the Gosselin exploitation, and they come out in droves to try to wreak havoc in an attempt to take the focus off the true situation at hand - the blatant gross exploitation of 8 innocent children at the hands of their parents and a good 50 corporations.
Thank you.
To the author/moderator of this article and corresponding comments. I would appreciate you removing the above comment that was left under "Bohemian Moon". I am the owner of a blog in which I write about the Gosselin exploitation, among other subjects, and apparently my stalker/s are out and about and posing as myself.
Please compare the IP numbers between posters posing as Bohemian Moon and myself, "Bohemianmoon". The one that comes with this post is obviously me.
I blogged about your article this afternoon. It upsets those that approve of the Gosselin exploitation, and they come out in droves to try to wreak havoc in an attempt to take the focus off the true situation at hand - the blatant gross exploitation of 8 innocent children at the hands of their parents and a good 50 corporations.
Thank you.
To the author/moderator of this article and corresponding comments. I would appreciate you removing the above comment that was left under "Bohemian Moon". I am the owner of a blog in which I write about the Gosselin exploitation, among other subjects, and apparently my stalker/s are out and about and posing as myself.
Please compare the IP numbers between posters posing as Bohemian Moon and myself, "Bohemianmoon". The one that comes with this post is obviously me.
I blogged about your article this afternoon. It upsets those that approve of the Gosselin exploitation, and they come out in droves to try to wreak havoc in an attempt to take the focus off the true situation at hand - the blatant gross exploitation of 8 innocent children at the hands of their parents and a good 50 corporations.
Thank you.
To the author/moderator of this article and corresponding comments. I would appreciate you removing the above comment that was left under "Bohemian Moon". I am the owner of a blog in which I write about the Gosselin exploitation, among other subjects, and apparently my stalker/s are out and about and posing as myself.
Please compare the IP numbers between posters posing as Bohemian Moon and myself, "Bohemianmoon". The one that comes with this post is obviously me.
I blogged about your article this afternoon. It upsets those that approve of the Gosselin exploitation, and they come out in droves to try to wreak havoc in an attempt to take the focus off the true situation at hand - the blatant gross exploitation of 8 innocent children at the hands of their parents and a good 50 corporations.
Thank you.
Bohemian Moon you are EVERYWHERE! Do you literally spend your days looking for nasty pointless articles about this family to spew your hate on? Seriously you need to get a life and leave this poor family alone. The State of PA and all their bitter jealousy has got your back! GO TROLL ELSEWHERE!
I am not sure if you can own a name or not and demand that comments come down because someone has a similar name.
Anyway, I would kind of like to know how the author feels about the show. Most of this appears to be detailing what blogs point out. Jen, do you watch the show? Do you read the blogs out there? Do you have an opinion on this?
Thanks
Happening again is it? Time to check IP's. I think there are only a couple real posters...GWOP has probably a handful if visitors...who post 1000's of times under names 100's of names.
Happening again is it? Time to check IP's. I think there are only a couple real posters...GWOP has probably a handful if visitors...who post 1000's of times under names 100's of names.
Well let's be honest. These are all just screen names and no one owns them, do they? They are not registered, correct? So anyone could use Kim. I am not sure if I would get that upset about it.
Happening again is it? Time to check IP's. I think there are only a couple real posters...GWOP has probably a handful if visitors...who post 1000's of times under names 100's of names.
Happening again is it? Time to check IP's. I think there are only a couple real posters...GWOP has probably a handful if visitors...who post 1000's of times under names 100's of names.
Kate is a witchy fotze.
Love the show! Love the Family! Bohemianmoon has written articles criticizing how Kate makes sandwiches. I guess That will further this fight for children s rights.
I don't care about what Kate has or doesn't have, or the amount of money this family brings in.
I urge all viewers to watch a recent episode of the show with the kids in mind. Imagine your daughter or son, or yourself being treated that way as a child. Imagine your cousin, or niece, or nephew. Is that fair? This is not about how Kate is mean or how Jon has "no balls". This is about those eight kids being unhappy, mistreated, and exploited.
Those at GWOP should stop publishing things for comic effect or to create a rise in people. They shouldn't focus on how much Kate sucks as a mother or why they don't give to charities. They should focus on the ending of this show to give those poor kids their dignity, privacy, and lives back.
If you don't like the show then don't watch it !!
When will the exploitation end? These kids need real parents, not phony ones.
I can't stand Kate. She has multiple personalities. She should write a book "Multiple Personalities", I'm sure it will be a best seller. All of her kids are going to write books about her, just wait and see. End this child abuse.
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