NEW YORK, May 27, 2009
Kin: "Jon & Kate" Kids Being "Exploited"
Her Brother And Sister-in-law Call For Laws Protecting Children In Reality Shows
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Jon and Kate Gosselin (AP Photo)
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The Early Show Kevin Kreider, younger brother of Kate Gosselin, of "Jon & Kate Plus 8," and his wife, Jodi Kreider, on The Early Show (CBS)
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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."
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- 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.
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- 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.
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- 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.
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- 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.
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- 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!
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- 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 to this comment
- 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.
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- 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 to this comment
- 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.
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- 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
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- Let's say for fa second I cared about reality stars and their lives. Her brother and sister-in-law seem like they have an axe to grind. I soncerely doubt if Jon & Kate's children will have life-long truma due to being on this show. I also doubt if there is anykind of abuse of the children going on. Should the show go off the air...I doubt it. That is up to them, TLC and the viewers, which seem to not be able to get enough of these two. If you don't like it, don't watch it.
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- Every year, more and more reality shows make the airwaves, and every year, I watch less and less television.
Posted by o2bewealthy
Hear, hear! I agree.
Posted by enough-already at 7:28 AM : May 28, 2009
I agree, I do not watch this garbage! I will watch TV but not for long, I do like movies but my favorite are NCIS, CSI and House.
I have to admit I am growing rather tired of CBS and it its feeble attempt to bring back "yellow journalism" They're reports are getting to be more like the trash I used to read in Star Magazine, sometimes they cause more harm than good - like with that sicko Nadya Suleman - the mob scene could have hurt those kids badly! - Reply to this comment
- I do enjoy watching Jon and Kate, but the one thing I do not understand is that for some reason other then her brother Kevin, where is Kates family? We have seen Jons Grandma and they have referenced is family, but Kate you can tell has lost all contact with her parents, grandparents and family. What is the story behind that? Just more of Kate being in control? I do not like the way she belittles Jon all the time. He needs to put her in her place. She hits him and is always saying he does not do things her way. He is a work horse to her at home..like when installing the carpet...he did most of the work of moving things around..I just don get her. I think that Jon is a loving father, but you can tell he does not like how she is always telling him he is wrong..correcting his grammar etc...Kate, when you learn to love yourself, then you will learn to love your family. You are dening your family of knowing there extended family...they are missing out. And if you let these people back into your life...you will get all that extra support and you will not be so stressed...someone needs to put you back into the real world of reality. Kate, get some help..Jon be there for your kids regardless of her...they need you now more then ever...
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- I think it's horrible that Jodi and Kevin went on national tv to discuss their issues with Kate and John. SHAME ON THEM! If they were truely concerned family members they wouldn't of went this route....they are wanting a piece of the fame also. They are just as guilty for exploiting this family as is the media and all the viewers. I don't think we should judge the Gosselin family none of us know what we would do in this situation......we will never walk in their shoes. Be thankful for that. I hope they can save their marriage cause the pain of divorce never goes away. Also, everyone is bashing Kate for being so mean to John he is a big boy he should of stuck of for himself and put a stop to it.
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- The entertainment mogul/vultures that make these reality shows are immoral greedy idiots without scruples who only care about making money. They care nothing about how their web of degenerate behavior taints everyone involved. Some of the same ultimate reality people are the porn kings too.
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- This is about their 15 minutes of fame and the money that they are not making. If you love your family you would not be all over the place bad mouthing them. They have actually helped the show and the Gosselin's and are making themselves look like ugly, spiteful people.
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- Every year, more and more reality shows make the airwaves, and every year, I watch less and less television.
Posted by o2bewealthy
Hear, hear! I agree. - Reply to this comment
- THANK YOU, Kevin and Jodi - your thoughts, opinions and concerns DO matter, and I'm sure there are plenty of folks who support your views. It is quite easy to get sucked in to the hype of Jon and Kate's show, and so having a new perspective about their motives behind filming the family, can be refreshing and thought provoking.
I couldn't help but notice on plenty of articles and comments that people have written since the season 5 opening of J&K+8, that show how fans are sad by the way the show is turning. It's sad to watch the Gosselins go from a normal-ish sort of family that loves each other, but struggles just like anyone else to put food on the table and clothes on their kids - and then in a few years time they are million dollar celebrities, and their family is falling apart. I get the impression that fans do want to support Jon and Kate, but they would be respectful and understanding if they chose to turn off the cameras - if it means fixing their marriage and having a healthy life for their kids. If Jon & Kate intended to be "normal", that idea was thrown out the window the minute they started going on paid family trips and receiving free promotional stuff - just to get ratings for their show. I've seen plenty of people comment about how J&K state they are just doing this for their kids - but it turns out that when you put your marriage first, then everything else will find it's place when it comes to the kids. No wonder their lives are falling apart. HELLOOO! - Reply to this comment
- I am a fan of the show as well. I can see where raising 8 children to two adults would be intense, but I feel that Kate is doing a WONDERFUL job of parenting as well is Jon. I can also see where this would effect a marriage. This is a lot of stress. Yes Kate may be ****** at times, but think about it... if you're at home spending time with 8 children all day and their hanging all over you and you were trying to get things done you would be stressed out too. And that would put a strain on the parental relationship. I think with kate now being the quote un quote "bread winner" of the family, she is making up for the 3 years she was constantly home with the children. I think that this bull with Jodi and Kevin is just that... BULL. It seems to me that they are angry that Someone is making more money then they are and they're jealous. I have heard Kate mention SEVERAL times in SEVERAL shows that the kids have grown accustomed to the cameras and whatnot. That they have been there since they were babies and they've grown up with them and the camera crew and producer are like family. It just seems awful funny to me that Kevin and Jodi were around in the beginning helping Jon & Kate babysit or make rennovations to their house, but they are just NOW speaking out. Shouldn't that have been done in the beginning? Of course I can see where Cara and Maddy would want their "alone" time and I'm sure the camera crew respects that. But all in all, I think the family is doing a wonderful job. And I think that this crap with Jon having an affair, needs to stop. This is what it is. Wheather he did it or not (The verdict is obviously still out on that) it needs to be laid to rest. It's only putting more undue stress on a family that's already stressed out enough. They are obviouly going through hard times right now and they don't need the added stress. I'm sorry to ramble on, and this is only my opinion, but I'm sick of them getting ridiculed. They're an ordinary family just like yours and mine. I look at it as ... it's a miracle that these 6 children are even alive! We should be celebrating their lives, not ridiculing them.
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- I've never watched the show. And, in general, I think that reality show cameras in general should be limited to "adults". Kids who grow up in the limelight seem to have more than their fair share of psychological problems (e.g. Michael Jackson, Britney Spears).
However, you also have to consider that it's expensive to raise 8 children. From what I've read, these two parents could never actually support them on their own. Would these children be more damaged from having cameras in their faces all the time, or from having Mom and Dad both working 2 jobs and having to eat macaroni and cheese 3 meals a day (exaggeration, but not too far from the truth)?
Without having watched the show (I live overseas and don't have access to it), my first impulse is to say that unless there is clear sign of damage being done, err on the side of caution and let the parents raise their kids however they see fit. - Reply to this comment
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