Kate Gosselin: Being In Spotlight Is Tough

MUSKEGON, Mich. — Kate Gosselin, co-star of TLC's "Jon & Kate Plus 8," says it's difficult reading stories about herself.

Recent media reports have focused a harsh spotlight on Kate and her husband, Jon, who star with their eight children on the popular reality show. In recent days, the Gosselins' wholesome on-screen home life has been called into question by reports of extramarital affairs. Both Jon and Kate have denied those accusations.

"This is certainly not what I envisioned I was signing up for," Kate Gosselin said Wednesday during an appearance at the Frauenthal Center, The Muskegon Chronicle reported.

"When I see magazines in stores it's really difficult. It amazes me there is an industry that follows you around and writes stories about you.

"It destroys peoples' lives. I need you to know, don't believe what you read unless you hear it from that person."

On its Web site, Us Weekly recently described an over-friendly relationship between Gosselin and her married bodyguard, Steve Neild, that "caught the attention of her husband _ and has become the talk of many locals" in their Pennsylvania community.

People magazine's Web site quoted Gosselin as saying the couple have been struggling for months.

"This week I'm on the cover of four magazines. One is true, three are not," Kate told her audience.

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The Gosselins are on the cover of People, Us Weekly, Star and National Enquirer. She described People's reporting as the most accurate.

She has previously denied having an affair with Neild. Jon Gosselin has denied cheating with a 23-year-old schoolteacher, and he has apologized for putting his family in an "awkward situation."

Kate Gosselin said the stop in Muskegon, located about 35 miles northwest of Grand Rapids, was the last on her travel schedule for a while. She said she plans to spend more time at home.

"The last couple weeks have been interesting," she said. "I had to address that."

TLC's most popular series, which has been on the air for four seasons, attracts an average audience of more than 2.8 million viewers.

The new, 40-week season premieres May 25 with an hourlong edition.

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On the Net:

http://tlc.discovery.com/tv/jon-and-kate/jon-and-kate.html

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Information from: The Muskegon Chronicle, http://www.mlive.com/muskegon

Comments

[bluegirl424]

Kate and John are train wrecks and I feel for the children.
Its so hypocritical that she would say being in the spotlight
is difficult. She put herself and her family there.
Reality shows are tough when the reality is ugly.
Time for them to move on, maybe get real jobs to
support their family and lifestyle.

[TigersEye]

It just hit me what her hairstyle reminds me of - a pony crossed with a porcupine! ;)

[FROGi]

That hairdo is called the Trump.

[TigersEye]

I thought Trump's 'do was called the Cobweb Combover.

[lillibelle]

Or a pineapple crossed with a porcupine. ;-]

[TigersEye]

The back part - pineapple porkupine.

The front - pony /blonde skunk.

[happycat]

Whatever it is, I cannot stand that hairdo, and I cannot stand Kate!

[Jordan7]

Poor baby. I'm just as sick of her as she claims to be over the publicity. Funny how it worked for her when people gushing over her show.

[BerkeleyLiberal]

Clearly this is a contrived attempt at publicity to drum up ratings for the next season of J&K+8.

I hope the 8 get genital warts from their sinful parents.

Come on!

[MIMom]

Seriously? Why wish harm on the children?

[progressivelady]

over the top, those kid's are adorable, even maddy, now maybe palin's brude, not J&K +8

[Bluesue]

I don't understand the obsession with people whose claim to fame is being good at procreating.

But, when you open your life to the public for money and celebrity, don't whine about the spotlight.

[EileneLepht]

BlueSue
They were NOT good at procreation. Their doctor was....I'm sick of people doing in vitro, having a litter and then not being able to raise them without doing a reality show to cover their expenses.

[Tamoomoo]

I could not care any less about her life, but sheesh, that hair is offensive.

[SaddieMcCall]

I've heard her say that Jon is not handling the attention from the media very well. I've heard her say that she feels that it is unfair that her body guard (and personal friend) has been thrushed into the media when he had not signed on for the show, and how the media has kept friends and family away from her; yet I've never heard her attriculate any thoughts about how her children may be affected by having their private lives being used for entertainment, and to financially support the family. Here's a thought, if the media makes the lives difficult for the adults, do you think that the children may also be affected by this? Put your children first, take them off the show.

[Housewife]

Boo hoo

[happycat]

So I am sitting here minding my own business watching the Grey's Anatomy season finale, when a commercial for Good Morning America comes on promoting their special guests for tomorrow, Jon and Kate plus 8 and their marital problems. If Kate really gave a cr ap about her marriage and her children, she would not be making these rounds. This is such a sham.. To Kate, what could be more important than making millions for herself and promoting her show. She is a p i g. Her husband is no better because he is doing NOTHING about the situation.

[TigersEye]

That's because they're now in the Octomom Media Bottomfeeder Frenzy category. You, too, can pop out 10 kids (or more!) and be an instant celebrity! ;)

[yellowdoggie]

I'm so sorry to hear that the big bad producers have forced this poor family into the spotlight. Where are the police? Why is there no one who will help these people rid themselves of the cameras? Do we live in a society that allows this to happen to decent folk?

I tell you, we'll all be sorry when we wake up and there are television cameras in our living rooms, people. If we don't stand up for these people, we deserve what we get.

[LMKay66]

I used to watch this show, but I couldn't stand Kate. I find her to be very controlling, demanding and anal. She doesn't let Jon speak for himself and she seems to belittle him at times and he just takes it. I don't feel sorry for her for all the negative press. She had to know this could happen. She says she didn't sign up for this. Well, yes, you did, Kate. She should have known. Besides, she's getting paid a ridiculous amount of money just to let cameras follow her around? She shouldn't complain.

[lmvd3]

Agreed. It's INVITING and allowing the press attention via reality and news shows that breeches normality and stability and hasten the demise of a family. She can blame whatever or whomever she wants, but in reality, the henpecking shrew and the philandering husband, will each do wonders to destroy a marriage. And most unfortunately, millions will be watching the train wreck at the invitation of the family. This stuff is pretty sick. Poor kids.

[sandpiper1]

LMKay66, my sentiments exactly, she's so agressive. She interrupts and disrespects Jon constantly, yelling at him in public and insulting him. I would not be surprised to hear he's shopping around. I think he's a nice guy though he sometimes smacks her down verbally. If she hate the publicity, why does she not cancel the show and go back into obscurity?.

[youvegot2bekidding]

I'd like to know if reading about herself has made her re-examine the shameful way she treats her husband. Sometimes it's easier to see yourself through someone else's eyes. (Obviously viewing herself on tape didn't change anything).

And it's funny the way people remark on her haircut. I have no opinion re her haircut - but it does remind me of Woody the Woodpecker.

[CR46]

Her husband apparently thinks it's better than working. Both of themdo nothing but wh...ore their children out for money.

[Cherie Richards]

She has no insight into herself. It's always someone else's fault. She is a classic narcissist. I feel for her children. Jon is the better parent.

[isis]

Kind of off topic but a biologist friend once told me that carrying a child plays havoc with your biochemistry. Chemical defenses have to drop so you don't miscarry etc. I can imagine that having 8 kids would mess somebody up in a lot of ways.

[lmvd3]

I don't buy it.

[MIMom]

I tried to reply but it got lost somewhere. You are correct.

[PallinAround]

Well, yes, it's true, to a point -- the same hormones that create PMS monsters out of some women will do that to a woman during and after pregnancy as well (and I am speaking from personal experience and a lot of research into the biochemical changes of pregnancy). HOWEVER, please note: this is more related to the state of being pregnant, not to the number of children carried -- she has had 2 pregnancies, not 8. Also, the changes are not permanent -- they subside over time after the pregnancy ends, though up to 2 years after a birth, women can be susceptible to post-partum depression. The excuse that she is still somehow impacted from the biochemical changes of pregnancy are not plausible for Kate any more -- in fact, I think she's gotten way more irrational and deluded over time, not less, which is what would be expected as her hormones revert back to non-pregnant levels.

[marymansour]

What a 4th rate talent sobbing about her 30 minutes of fame. Go home, loser.

[lillibelle]

If only she would, Mary. It looks like she'll do just about anything to avoid going home.

[fchongrutherford]

I admit it, I used to love this show. The kids cracked me up. Then it changed and became less about a real family, and more about a strange celebrity family caught in the spotlight. The show started to feel more like a manipulation as many episodes descended into travelogues or hidden infomercials for various spots around the country. I still watched, though, because the kids cracked me up.

Then came the last episode. Jon said he wasn't sure if he could do the show anymore. He wasn't sure if he could be 'Jon & Kate Plus 8' and just 'Jon' at the same time. So much doubt ... that it felt like a reality TV season ending cliffhanger, akin to the hatch lighting up in LOST or whether or not Sam and Diane were going to get back together at the end of an early season of CHEERS.

At the same time, TLC has farcically become the 'Multiple Baby Channel'. There are at least 2 OTHER families on TLC who have multiple children. If you're the 'Jon & Kate Plus 8' show, it might feel like competition.

Are they falling apart under the spotlight the way the Hulk Hogan family did? Or, could competition be enough to make a young family who's gotten used to the extra income that fame can generate worry about ratings?

After watching the change in the show, I've grown so cynical that I think it could be so.

[seattledemocrat]

I saw that same last episode and as you'll recall, it was Kate who ALL the talking, even talking for Jon about how uncomfortable he's become. She wouldn't let him speak for himself.

It is clear that Kate has changed tremendously in the course of the show, where Jon seems the same mellow easy going guy he's always been.

Of course she won't take any responsiblity for the demise of their marriage, she will blame him and feel no guilt.