Kin: "Jon & Kate" Kids Being "Exploited"

Jeb Bush being interviewed by Charlie Rose on "CBS This Morning" / CBS

The eight children of Jon and Kate Gosselin are being exploited and viewed as commodities, all in the name of ratings, Kate's brother and sister-in-law charged on The Early Show Wednesday.

Kevin Kreider, Kate's younger brother, and Kreider's wife, Jodi Kreider, told co-anchor Harry Smith they're speaking out now because they think it's high-time for laws protecting children who appear in reality shows such as TLC's Jon & Kate Plus 8." They say they want to be the "voice" of the Gosselin youngsters.

The Kreiders say they're already seeing signs of adverse effects on the Gosselins' sextuplets and twins of having TV cameras constantly capturing the lives of all Gosselin family members.

Tabloid reports claim the show is also impacting the Gosselin marriage. Both are said to be having or have had affairs. Both deny it.

All the controversy surrounding the show helped it draw record ratings Monday night for the premiere of its fifth season. Almost 10 million viewers tuned in, "good numbers for network TV, pure gold on cable," observes CBS News correspondent Michelle Gielan. "To put that in perspective, the show set a ratings record just two years ago with just under 3 millions viewers."

Kevin and Jodi were involved with the show when it started.

"We thought it was very innocent at the time," Jodi explained. "And it -- the first season started, I think, eight episodes. And it quickly turned into more and more demands of Jon and Kate from the network, and turned into 40 episodes in a six-month span. ... There were cameras in the children's bedrooms at one point. And they were filming all year-round. These were very huge concerns for us."

"We spoke to them about that. And ... their response was, 'This is our choice. This is what we want to do. Just respect that." '

"We're speaking out now," Kevin pointed out, "because we want to be the voice of our nieces and nephews. We're seeing it turn-tide, that they're being viewed as a commodity."

Jodi was more blunt. "They're being exploited," she said emphatically. "It's time for America to see the situation for what it really is, which is -- unfortunately, there no laws protecting children in reality TV shows. And it's time for the public to be aware of this. And that these -- these children are very aware of the cameras in their homes. Their home is their workplace. And this is not a healthy environment for kids to be raised in."

" ... There are effects already being -- you know, signs already. ... They don't want the cameras around. They have told me personally. ... We watched them quite a bit about a year ago and further back. They would say, 'Aunt Jodi, I don't like the cameras on every vacation with us. I don't like them -- and, too, you know, kids have bad times, bad moments, they cry -- and having the camera zoom in on a crying child, I mean, this is just -- this should not be a form of entertainment."

Kevin noted that, "I do talk to Kate and Jon. We haven't seen the kids in awhile, which is hard. ... Our relationship has definitely been strained now. What we hope is that they will kind of come around, see the effects, see what's most important."

"They're very lost right now," Jodi asserted. "They're very blinded by all of this media and this -- you know, the fame and the fortune. ... Unfortunately, I think it has come down to (being) all about the ratings. And no one is looking at these children as (to) what they are going through and the life consequences they are going to have as they get older."

115 Comments Add a Comment

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NathanAva says:: This is what happens when you treat a man like dirt. He finds someone who respects him. The money has gone to her head. She lives a high end lifestyle, a jet-setter, and then cries the blues for money? Where is the millons? I get my car serviced 3 miles from their house so on my way home I drove by. A biker was taking pictures from his cell phone. No one else around. A beautiful quiet afternoon in the rolling hills. Too bad they spent the day in the basement.; reply

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PonderinginVa says:: At one point Jodi was willing to be paid by TLC for being a featured part of the show. But since this was stopped by Kate, is this Jodi's way of striking back? Seems like she and Kevin are trying to throw bad publicity the shows way. First her(Jodi) sister was blogging online and telling every little thing negative she could think of(this didn't happen until after Kate stopped Jodi from getting paid) Then Jodi And Kevin were trying to expose a so-called contract where Kate agreed to let jon be with other women as long as he stayed on the show.And now they are tryingto say that the kids are being exploiited. I did not see her saying that when she was on the show every other week. She is an angry woman trying to do anything she can to hurt her sister-in-law. She was more than happy to' jump on the band wagon' before. She is angry because Kate wouldn't let her get paid!! And also i remember Jodi Allowing the camera into her daughter bedroom to watch them playing dress up so why is it now bad to let the camera in while the kids play in home.; reply

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girl1978 says:: I believe that they began with good intentions. I probably would have done the same thing when faced with all these kids to provide for. However, you can't tell me that they don't have plenty of money now. Which means it's time to call it quits. When you see the effect it is having on their marriage, how can anyone argue that they should continue this show. The saddest part is how hard they BOTH tried to have these children and now they are basically abandoning them. If the family down the street had eight kids, I would certainly say the same thing, try and make it work! Nothing good will come from their parents splitting up. And what person throws a 10 plus year marriage out the window because of six months of disagreements. Remember the part about "for better or WORSE". People never consider the worse part. Each individual goes through ups and downs in a marriage and the other should be the support through those times. They should work at this marriage 8 times as hard as any normal couple would because their kids deserve that much.; reply

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swin411 says:: WOW! how funny, did we all forget that her brother and his wife were at one time apart of the show and Jodi had no problem exploiting the kids when she got to take those free trips. Oh and lets not forget her excitement about going on Oprha. Maybe Kate has let it go to her head who wouldnt hm hm I wouldnt pass making all that $ and having the ability to travel with my kids to places we might never see. Lets see and have the income to pay for 8 college tuitions. I see and here alot of talking but if you were in her shoes you dont know how you would act. And who cares if they devorce if it was the couple down the road I wouldnt give it A second thought big deal. Maybe its for the best. I think that if you tell them there wrong for having there kids on tv then everyone of those shows should be off the air hmmmm then what would you all watch, cant say that you dont care because your on here taking the time out of your lives to post your comments lol I think this is funny we as Americans are so dang judgemental oh and love to be in everyones lifes.; reply

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girl1978 says:: Amen to Jody! Someone needs to be the voice for these kids. And they may be using the media but hello, does anyone think that Kate listens to reason!? No way, she's not even listening to her own husband who was clearly showing signs of disliking the show at the end of last season. He may be too laid back in some peoples eyes, but she chose to marry him! It doesn't matter if we think he's too laid back, which I beleive is probably the only type of person who could deal with Kate's personality. It sounds to me like he didn't want to do the show anymore and she is throwing a fit. He probably was standing his ground about it and so she told him that their marriage is over. She has no respect for him what so ever. It is very sad because these poor children are going to pay the price for all of this mess they have created. It won't matter how much money they've made from this show, it won't fix the problems these kids are bound to have from it. I feel like they made a deal with the devil, and now Kate is blinded by money and fame. Fight for these kids Kevin and Jody, someone needs to!; reply

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andie52 says:: Jon, Kate and their eight children have attracted a huge TV audience, screaming tabloid headlines and, now, a state labor investigation.

The Pennsylvania Department of Labor says it's looking into whether the hit reality show "Jon & Kate Plus 8" is complying with child labor laws.

The TLC series follows Jon and Kate Gosselin as they raise their eight young children, including 8-year-old twins and sextuplets who just turned 5. The show drew nearly 10 million viewers for its fifth-season premiere Monday following reports of trouble in the Gosselins' marriage.

Labor Department spokesman Justin Fleming tells The Associated Press that the department is looking into a complaint against the show.

TLC says it "fully complies" with state laws and regulations.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090529/ap_en_tv/us_tv_jon___kate_investigation; reply

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kijohnson2 says:: I believe that the "Concerned" Family members are bitter at something or some one and will take "ANY" free publicity they can get. If the show is that disruptive to the physcial,mental, and spirtual well being of those children then YES something needs to be done.I watch this show because it is amazing how Kate handles certain situations.Kate is defitnely the power house in the relationship. John to me is way to laid back he would just let them kids run wild. wATCH THOSE "FAMILY MEMBERS" SOMETHING IS JUST NOT KOSHER.; reply

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jillanders says:: ARE YOU KIDDING ME? Some of the posters on this board amaze me! Jon and Kate are airing the personal lives of each one of their children without consent, yet some of you are concerned about Jon and Kate's privacy being exploited by Jodi and Kevin!!! That makes no sense.

Can you imagine your childhood being filmed and aired. Even if you were told you could "say no" anytime you didn't feel like filming, most kids their age don't have any idea what's really going on and don't have the presence of mind to realize they SHOULD say no.

Jodi and Kevin said they have tried speaking to Jon and Kate privately. I think it's about time someone speaks up for the kids. I agree with them that there should be laws protecting the kids.; reply

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naj1953 says:: Take this show off the air...Enough is enough...I don't want to keep hearing about these people, who only use their kids to make money.... All these reality tv shows are dumb.; reply

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SKEENSMOM says:: I LOVED THE SHOW IN THE BEGINNING BUT WILL NO LONGER WATCH THIS SHOW, LAST WEEKS EPISODE DISGUSTED ME, WITH THE DRAMA OF THE INTERVIEWS WITH JON AND KATE. NO ONE SHOULD BE PRIVY TO THIS KIND OF DISCUSSION BETWEEN A HUSBAND AND WIFE, LEAST OF ALL STRANGERS. THE CHILDREN ARE BEAUTIFUL AND WONDERFUL TO WATCH THEM BUT THIS HAS GONE TOO FAR. IT SEEMED IN THE PAST THAT JON WAS THE MORE REASONABLE PERSON, AS FAR AS WHETHER TO DO THE SHOW OR NOT. BUT, WHEN HE CHOSE TO AIR THEIR DIRTY LAUNDRY ON THE LAST EPISODE IT SHOWED HE IGNORED HIS EARLIER GUT INSTINCT AND ALLOWED HIS "LACK OF JUDGEMENT" TO BE FURTHER EXPLOITED. JODI AND KEVIN SEEM TO BE " REAL" TO ME AND SEEM TO LOVE THE CHILDREN. ALTHOUGH, I DID NOT SEE THE INTERVIEW ON THE TODAY SHOW THAT WAS MENTIONED BEFORE. THE FACT THAT THE SEXTUPLETS EVEN KNOW THE WORD PAPARAZZI IS HIDEOUS. THESE PEOPLE NEED TO WAKE UP AND SHUT THIS SHOW DOWN, KATE NEEDS TO GET OVER HERSELF AND TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT THE OCTOMOM, DO YOU REALLY WANT TO BE THAT KIND OF CELEBRITY? GET OVER YOURSELF AND BOTH OF YOU REALLY DO SOMETHING FOR YOUR CHILDREN. DO THE RIGHT THING; reply