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.

Story continues below

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.

___

On the Net:

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

___

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

Comments

[CRA1]

I too watched this show for this past season and 1/2 and soon was tired of them all. Sure, the kids are cute (except Maddy) and one can quickly surmise how they are exploiting them so that they can have the big house, free lipo, teeth whitening and John now has more hair! The troubles they are now having are their own doing and I do not feel sorry for them at all. I have stopped watching and will not watch until an episode is shot of someone taking some scissors to Kates hair!!

[bsc]

i have no idea who this woman is but she needs a new haircut

[nippyfan]

I watched one episode and this Kate person seemed to be extra annoying, unhappy, neurotic and demanding. More demanding than her eight children put together. If she has that much of a problem exploiting her kids so she can afford them, then she can NOT sign the contract, move and be forgotten in 15 minutes. I felt bad for the husband and I usually never have cause to feel bad for the man.

[lillibelle]

And...she is forever slapping him. What is with that?

[nippyfan]

She's gonna slap him right into the arms of another.....any other.

[WinterParkMom]

I don't understand the fuss about this couple and their spoiled kids.

The few times I've watched while waiting for commercials to end on another channel, I come away with the impression that - 1 she really doesn't love her husband, 2 - it would be fine with her if she were able to walk away from her children, 3 she thinks a little too highly of herself.

This couple chose to put themselves in the public spotlight for the sake of the almighty dollar. They admitted it way long ago. Now that they have somehow become a part of pop culture, all this speculation about them is too intrusive? Get real sister and maybe get off the tv, then you can talk about privacy.

[SweetTart]

I think Kate would love to be able to make money on her own, have her own talk show. The problem is she doesn't have an ounce of talent or charm. However, I think it would be hilarious if some network exec was idiotic enough to give her a talk show - and watch it sink like a stone in the ratings, and be quietly cancelled after a few shows!

Until then, Kate is on the gravy train of pimping her kids' lives for all and sundry. I hear she and Jon make $75K per episode and they churn those babies out. Much like she churned out sextuplets. What do you want to bet that those kids will see practically nothing of all that money? They'll be like that child actor who had to sue his parents for some of his royalties, but it was too late - there was nothing left.

Hang in there kids -- if you can, run away to aunt Jody and uncle Kevin's! Figure out the code of that locked gate and run for your lives!

[screamingbanshee]

f u and all your efin kids! stop rewarding people for overpopulating!

[sodulguy]

Kate Who?

[fame]

Oh please, she's loving every second of this attention. Positive or negative, it's all the same to her.

[MaximMaximus]

Let me get this straight. She and her hubby decide to make more children (after having 2) but she's not able. So they chose to go for fertility treatment and things get out of hand. She and her hubby end up having 8 more kids. Then they somehow manage to sign a reality show deal. First they fix her up with some plastic surgery so that she's got an acceptable appearance on the TV screen. Then, they shoot a completely nonsensical show (my opinion). She and her hubby make tons of money and they become celebrities. Basically, a fertility treatment that has gone wrong has brought this family wealth and public recognition. What kind of message does this give to people out there who are trying to live a responsible life and work hard? What's ultimately pathetic is that there are millions of people watching this show otherwise it wouldn't be on TV! To what has the society come down?

[superjules]

Well, just to set it straight they had 6 more kids. I don't know if this does anything for your opinion of the matter.

[PallinAround]

The first two (twins) were also the result of fertility treatment.

[ladyvader]

They knew from the first pregnancy that being on the fertility drugs they could have multiples the next time around. I just don't think they thought it would be six. I believe they thought it would be another set of twins or triplets.

Still no reason to have cameras in your face all day every day for $$$.

[MaximMaximus]

Thanks for the correction on the number of kids. But the substance of my comment still applies.

[mhernan06]

people like Octomom Nadya Suleman happen.

[calgary]

The minute you make your living off public interest. You have no private life left.

[SUSANINCOLUMBIA]

Dear Kate,
If life in the glare of the public spotlight is so difficult and causing so much harm to your family, why not do the right thing. Tell the cameras to go away, regroup with your family and try to get your lives back on some sort of healthy, less egocentric, order.

[lmvd3]

It would appear that maybe she doesn't want her marriage to survive, or she would have taken a hiatus or would end the contract immediately at all costs. I personally would have no problem saying "This has to end, because we are in crisis and need to repair our marriage." Perhaps she prefers money and attention over family? Is it possible she might have a bit of sociopathy???

[eatmypress]

seriously, it's like she has a plant on her head. i striped plant. it's just awful.

[bsc]

hahahahaha

[camanokat]

Pineapple plant

[folksonomy]

I've watched the show. I have always felt for John. He seems like a long-suffering husband. Kate seems a bit emotionally abusive towards him. The body language is alarming between the two of them in many of the scenes where they are sitting next to each other and re-capping scenes.

Oh, and, psh, whatever too.

[redxtine]

"It amazes me there is an industry that follows you around and writes stories about you"

Um, what industry do you think you've been fully and enthusiastically participating in for the past 3 years?
The axe swings both ways - you loved it when only good things were being let out; now you're shocked, SHOCKED that there are people who follow you around and write (unflattering) things about you.
Uh, OK. Good luck dealing with that surprising revelation.

[jingles32]

Took the words out of my mouth; unreal.

[Ms Fu]

I heard that when Kate Gosselin speaks at churches or other events, that they ask for $20 donations. Can anyone confirm or deny this? Because I've heard that they receive 60K per show.

[MelodyCA]

Its true. If you do a google search you will discover they used to get "LOVE" offerings during those speaking engagements.

[happycat]

I think that I am going to be sick! I heard this morning that she gets 75 grand per episode and 100 dollars a head for speaking engagements. Now Churches give her money? Oy.

[lmvd3]

No wonder she likes the church. That and all those lovely church ladies who willingly volunteer to help with a big batch of newborns.

[MIMom]

She was in Michigan last night charging $100/person to hear her speak and get an autograph.

[voltage356]

She should've thought about that before she had the childern.

[MIMom]

Having the children wasn't the problem - she sold them out, that was the problem.